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NY retirement applications double since last year The high number of state employees


who took the early retirement incentive has put a strain on the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) that operates the state retirement system. The number of retirement


applications submitted to OSC increased by 50 percent in 2009. In 2010, when so many people opted to take the early retirement incentive, OSC received 30,000 retirement applications. “Each examiner has an average of


600 cases to process,” said Catherine Dell’Angelo, an employees retirement system examiner (ERSE) 5 and a PEF steward. “Prior to 2010, individuals received four to six monthly advance checks based on estimated benefits before their case was closed. Due to the influx of applications in a short period of time, individuals receive eight to 10 advance checks. It may take up to 60 days to receive your first advance check, as it depends on the date in the month in which you retire.” Unlike people retiring from the


private sector who may know exactly


how much their pension checks will be even before they get off the payroll, it’s more complicated for state employees. “Public employees’ pensions are


calculated based on years of service, final average salary and age,” Dell’Angelo said. “Tier level, employment type, such as a school or non-school employee, dictate how the service credit and final average salary are calculated. We must also determine what monies are pensionable or not pensionable.” “We get the final information from


the employer,” said Marjorie Kehrer, another ERSE 5 and PEF steward. “There are many variables based on employer information that may affect the pension amount. Until a person is off the payroll, we can’t exactly calculate the pension amount. If an employer doesn’t respond in a timely fashion with payroll information, or if we must make additional requests for explanations regarding employment, that delays the processing time. “A retiree will receive as much as 95


percent of the estimate, before a case is closed,” Kehrer said. Lyndon Jones, a PEF Executive


Board member and Division 263 council leader, said, “The retirement system is not holding up retiree’s money as a letter to The Communicator stated. We’re working short-staffed with a 25-year- old computer system. OSC intends to replace the system within a few years and this will help expedite applications. We do the best possible job under those circumstances.”


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PEF Information Line: 1-800-553-2445


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