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1. What are annual verification statements?

Yes, I'm still alive! Please continue to send or deposit my monthly benefit check.

Annually every retiree and survivor receiving a monthly benefit check from the Leominster Contributory Retirement Board will receive an "Annual Verification Statement" form. Each retiree/survivor must complete this form, sign and return the form to our office promptly. If this form is returned to our office by mail or delivered by someone other than the named individual, the Retiree's/Survivor's signature must be notarized by a Notary Public. If the retiree/survivor delivers the form in person, a member of our staff will gladly accept this form from them.

Failure to return the "Annual Verification Statement" in the time allotted may result in a suspension of your retirement benefits.

Please call the Leominster Contributory Retirement Office at 978-534-7507, ext. 246 if you have any questions.

2. What are the post retirement employment restrictions?

As a Massachusetts Public Employment Retiree, there are some restrictions on post-retirement employment for any and all Massachusetts Public Employees (including all cities, towns, public schools, fire / water or health districts, housing authorities, state agencies, state colleges and universities). Restrictions also apply to federal grant funded positions with a Massachusetts Public Employer.

Public sector employment for retirees is limited to both aggregated hours and earnings per calendar year. Hours of compensated work are limited to an aggregate of 960 hours per calendar year. Earnings are limited to the difference between your retirement allowance and the compensation paid for the position you retired from. (For example, if the position you retired from currently pays $30,000 and your retirement allowance is $20,000, you are limited to the difference - $10,000 of earnings - from public sector employment is what you can earn per calendar year). The rationale: as a public sector retiree, you cannot be compensated (from public funds) more than you would have received had you continued working in the position from which you retired. You must cease all public employment when either limit is reached. If you exceed either limitation, you will be subject to reimbursement of all compensation in excess of limits or you must waive receipt of your retirement allowance for the period of re-employment with any public sector employer.

• For regular Superannuation Retirees, retirement employment in the private sector is not subject to restrictions.
• For all Disability Retirees, all post-retirement earnings including private-sector earnings, are subject to restrictions.

3. How do I reporting the death of a retiree or beneficiary?

The option you chose when you retire determines the benefit available for your named beneficiary. Please advise your family or other beneficiary that benefits may be available to them and to notify the Leominster Contributory Retirement Board upon your death. They will need to provide us with a copy of your death certificate for us to appropriately payout benefits to them.

If you retired after January 12, 1988 and chose Option C benefit at retirement and your named beneficiary predeceases you, you will be eligible for an increased benefit (Pop-Up) equivalent to Option A calculations. In such a case you will need to notify us and provide us with a copy of your beneficiary's death certificate. Upon notification and receipt of the death certificate, we will adjust your allowance retroactive to the date of your beneficiary's death.

If you chose either Option A or Option B at retirement you may change your beneficiary at any time by completing and submitting a "Change of Beneficiary" form to our office. It is important to note a specific form that can be obtained from the Leominster Contributory Retirement Board is required to change a beneficiary. No change will take effect unless that form is received by our office.

It is also important to keep us informed of changes in addresses for your beneficiary in the event we need to contact them upon your death. To change a beneficiary's address a specific form is not required, simply call or write to the Leominster Contributory Retirement Board, 25 West Street, Room 15, Leominster, MA 01453.

4. What are government pensions (social security)?

Benefits that you may receive from Social Security may be offset by the pension that you receive from the Leominster Contributory Retirement Board (which is a Government Pension Plan). The amount of offset is determined by Social Security. While you do not need to report your Social Security benefits to us, you do need to report all benefits you receive from us to Social Security. If you are subject to offset by Social Security, you must report all changes in benefits (i.e. COLA increases) to Social Security. Further information is available on the Social Security Administration website.