Welcome

Retired-State-County-And-Municipal-Employees-Association-Of-Massachusetts

Founded in 1968, now in its 50th year of serving retired Massachusetts public employees of the 104 public retirement systems within the Commonwealth, the Association is widely recognized as one of the strongest independent advocacy groups on Beacon Hill. From public pensions and health insurance, to federal issues such as the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision, Government Pension Offset and Medicare the Association leads the fight exclusively for all Massachusetts retired public employees. We are The Voice of the Retired Public Employee.

WEP Reform Update: No False Starts
WEP Reform Update: No False Starts

Work continues through the dog days of summer to craft a new proposal to reform the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision. The bill, which is being drafted by Congressman Richard Neal, was on track to be released in July. More time is needed to work out the fine details, in order to...

Read More
Life Insurance & Health Insurance Focus of Beacon Hill Hearing
Life Insurance & Health Insurance Focus of Beacon Hill Hearing

Affordability, Representation and Transparency Key Issues

JULY 25, 2019: Mass Retirees and union leaders packed a State House hearing today that focused on a legislation impacting health, dental and life insurance benefits for public retirees and active employees....

Read More
Legislature Approves FY20 Budget; Includes 3% State & Teacher COLA
Legislature Approves FY20 Budget; Includes 3% State & Teacher COLA

To Be Paid in August and Retroactive To July 1

JULY 23, 2019: State & Teacher retirees are set to receive their 21st consecutive annual COLA. On Monday, the legislature approved the $43.1 billion Fiscal Year 2020...

Read More
Mass Retirees & Unions Meet With GIC
Mass Retirees & Unions Meet With GIC

Focus on Members’ Costs & Future Plan Design

JULY 10, 2019: In what might very well be a first, the state’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC) hosted a near 3-hour meeting with Mass Retirees and the state’s public employee and teacher unions.

...
Read More

From The Media
State Lawmakers Reach Compromise On $43.1 Billion State Budget State House News Service
Sound, Fury and Prescription Drugs New York Times
Once Again State Pension Fund One of the Best Boston Globe
Trump thanks federal employees with $143.5 billion in retirement cuts Washington Post
LEGIS, BAKER ACT TO SAVE RETIRED TEACHERS ON HEALTH INSURANCE State House News Service

Latest Articles from The Voice

WEP Reform Work Continues

WEP Reform Work Continues

Neal & Brady Push Bipartisan Effort

When gauging whether or not legislation may have a chance of advancing through Congress or the State Legislature, a telltale sign is the level of staff activity happening behind the scenes.

This spring brought a distinct uptick in activity surrounding the proposal to reform the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) from a widespread network of organizations advocating for reform. Most importantly, the work was not limited to WEP reform advocates.

Municipal Retiree Insurance Moratorium Expired June 30th

Fight Continues For Permanent Protection

 

Senate Approves Changes to Retiree Work Restrictions

Increases Annual Hour Limit to 1,200

During its debate on the FY19 State Budget,  the Senate has voted to increase the hourly limit placed on retirees who return to part-time public service for a state or local entity in Massachusetts. Senators Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport) and Paul Feeney (D-Foxboro) cosponsored the measure as a floor amendment to the budget.

State Life Insurance Increase No Easy Task

Budget Amendments Rejected

For more than a decade, Mass Retirees has fought for an increase in the state’s basic life insurance benefit for retirees and active employees. Our goal is to increase the benefit to $10,000.

As members know, the current $5,000 benefit was established in 1985. After 33 years, the benefit no longer satisfies its original intent – to cover retirees’ funeral and burial expenses. According to the National Association of Funeral Directors, costs in Massachusetts well exceed $5,000 and can easily surpass $10,000, even for modest arrangements.