Friday, September 28, 2012

PENSION & BUYBACK CHANGES

Important changes are taking place in the rules governing certain aspects 
of retirement and the buyback of creditable service.


On Nov. 18, Governor Deval Patrick signed "An Act Providing for Pension
Reform and Benefit Modernization," which revised certain rules affecting 
current active members and increased benefits for certain retirees 
and survivors.

Effective April 2, 2012, the measure also significantly changed the benefit

structure for new members enrolling in a Massachusetts public retirement

system or re-enrolling after taking a refund.

The legislation, Chapter 176 of the Acts of 2011, includes a provision 
dealing with an increase in the interest rate for the purchase of service. 
As a result, the interest charged on certain service purchases will double 
from the current 4.125 percent "buyback" rate to the level of
 "actuarial interest," which is now 8.25 percent.

The "buyback interest" of 4.125 percent is available to individuals applying 
to purchase the service before April 2, 2013, and either paying in full or 
committing to an installment agreement before April 2, 2013, or the invoice
 due date, whichever is later.

On and after April 2, 2013, purchasers will be charged "actuarial interest." 
For more information, members of the Massachusetts

Teachers' Retirement System should visit the MTRS website:


Members of the State Retirement System should visit:

Additional information can also be obtained by visiting:
on the Public Employee Retirement Administration website 

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