Record of Testimony

Dec 12, 2023

How the Loss of COLA affected This Retiree

Colleen Kelly Mellor

Pension Education: 3 facts that have not been brought to your attention

Madams and Sirs,

The three new inputs:

I retired in 2010. I have never received a COLA. Not only have I never received a COLA, but I was also encouraged to take the added Social Security benefit that would have to be paid back.

December 11, 2023

Dear Treasurer Diossa and Members of PAWG,

General Treasurer Diossa and members of the Pension Advisory Working Group

Dear Treasurer James A. Diossa.

I support Major James Rowley's position

Submitted via online webform

I retired from the State of RI after 30 years of public service as a social worker with the Department of Children Youth and Families. I believe the state has an ethical and legal responsibility to provide the COLA funds that were promised in the contract when we began our employment.

I am a RI State worker Retiree. The following link is a piece written by an agent from the Economic Policy Institute. The article explains the intentionality of government decisions regarding our pension security...

Inflation has reduced my standard of living. But more than anything, having no meaningful increases in my pension to counter this gives me little hope  for a future in my own home.