I am testifying that this cut in COLA has resulted in a hardship for me as I am a single retiree juggling payments for living expenses as well as subsidizing my sister who is a single retiree who does not have Social Security. Please help!

Submitted via online webform

The loss of cola in 2011 is now adversely impacting my normal lifestyle. With the cost of food, insurance, taxes all going through the roof the last three years, I'm living paycheck to paycheck now in my elderly years. Cola was supposed to curb some of these economic trends, but for the retired, it was taken away. I urge you to work and help us out by re-instating our cola. We are hurting!

Submitted via online webform

Please consider this a formal recommendation submitted to the Advisory Group for discussion and consideration:

Testimony attached below.

Submitted via email

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO THE ERSRI PENSION SYSTEM

SUBMISSION OF ADVOCATES FOR COLA RESTORATION AND PENSION RELIEF TO THE PENSION ADVISORY WORKING GROUP.

The Advocates for COLA Restoration and Pension Relief submit the following proposals for the Pension Advisory Working Group to consider:

REVENUE STREAMS FOR FUNDING COLA RESTORATION

I would urge that this testimony would be appropriately placed in the January 31, 2024 "Meeting Materials." That PAWG meeting will begin the examination of the costs of the various options/proposals, and this testimony will identify avenues for funding the options for immediate full COLA restoration.

I was an eligibility technician at DHS for 30 years.

I loved my job.

Over the years I have met some of my clients.

They have outstanding jobs and some are married with families

Again as I said I loved my job, helping the needy.

Now I’m in a position that I’m the needy.

I have had ONE raise in 23 years that equals $700.00.

I’m 86 I would like to pay my bills in a timely manner and not have interest added to the bottom line.

So we can’t have compound rate but COLA can be implemented in many ways

I am writing as a member of the State of RI pension system for advice from you about how to craft a testimony for the committee. I retired at the age of 62 under the "early retirement" incentive in 2016 after 20 years as a middle school math and science teacher in South Kingstown public schools. At that time I was within 5 years of officially retiring to receive my full pension. I had a debilitating case of lyme disease during the summer of 2015 and was chronically exhausted during the 2015-2016 school year, which led to my decision to retire early.

Pension Advisory Working Group Statement

Offered by Lawrence Verria, teacher 1983-2023 (lwverria@gmail.com)

I attended the December 14, 2023 Pension Advisory Working Group (PAWG) meeting at CCRI. Based on what I witnessed at that meeting, I decided to add my commentary for your consideration. Since I am most familiar with the teacher’s retirement situation, my comments direct solely the educators’ circumstance.