Matthew Andrews

Regarding the 3 percent COLA all RI State Employee Retirees had before 2011, when the "Retirement Security Act" was passed.



When I retired from State Service in 2005, we were ASSURED that the 3 percent COLA would be guaranteed to us, regardless of changes that would be proposed further down the road.



At retirement time, we were told that if or when retiree benefits would change, they WOULD NOT apply to those retired prior to enacting any retiree benefit changes into law. The changes, we were told then, if they did occur, would only apply to future retirees at the time any new law would be enacted.



This would also mean that our beneficiaries would be grand-fathered in as well, as they were getting one-half of our benefits. In essence, I could be assured my spouse would have something for income support, without being impacted.



When we filed our collective lawsuit in the courts, this is what we wanted. Protect the retirees who left State Service before the law was changed, and apply the new law to new retirees.



But, the courts made everyone retired applicable to the benefit changes.



All we, earlier retirees would want, is to have those retired before the the benefits were changed to get our full benefits back, including those for our beneficiaries collecting on deceased retiree benefits. And, to have those retires who left under the law changes to be under the law changes. It's just fair for the older retirees.



Another alternative would be to prorate the COLA's up to a full 3 percent based on years of service older retirees worked up to a full 3 percent, which would apply also to beneficiaries.

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