Happy Holidays
Elections- several types
We have finished with two elections and have one more to go.
Political elections are now behind us and by the time you receive this edition of the newsletter, vote counts should be announced everywhere. Several races in our area, as well as nationally, were extremely close, which meant recounts were important, but so is each and every vote.
Open enrollment period election for health insurance plans. The decision of whether to stay with the plan you had this year or make a change had to be made by November 17. We were surprised to learn that the rate increases applied to each plan were part of the original health insurance negotiations with UnitedHealth Care, rather than based on use of the services.
The third election is upcoming and important to us, election of representatives to the Teachers
Retirement Board. We do know the current retired teacher representatives to the TRB are Clare Bennet and Bill Murray. We also know that six additional retired teachers went through a rather lengthy process to apply as candidates for these posts. At the time of the most recent TRB meeting on November 9, the TRB approved all eight retired teacher candidates to be placed on the ballot along with two active teacher candidates. At a later date, one of the current retired teacher representatives, Bill Murray, withdrew his candidacy. On November 14, the following names were posted on the TRB site as candidates to be elected by active and retired teachers.
- Clare Barnett
- Carrie Cassady
- Joslyn Delancey
- Joseph Giaquinto, Jr.
- Rita McDougald-Campbell
- Mary Ellen Minichiello
- William Myers
- Margaret Rick
- Paula Schwartz
We do not yet have details about when and how the election will take place except that the TRB approved the plan to contract with a vendor to conduct the election. It appears that working teachers also vote on the retired teacher representatives. It was explained that active teachers will vote electronically and retired teachers are likely to receive a mail ballot. Details are being left to the vendor hired to conduct the election and are to follow any procedures outlined in the statutes that pertain to this election. Stay tuned.
SFCRTA Meeting Recap
We had our first in-person SFCRTA meeting since COVID on October 12 at the beautiful Rolling Hills Country Club in Wilton. The approximately 70 members who attended brought a large selection of unwrapped toys for the Toys for Tots program. The SFCRTA Board
authorized an additional donation to the Salvation Army’s program for toys on behalf of our retired teacher members who were unable to attend in person. The toys and donation were delivered by Rita Ferri, who reported how very gratefully they were received.
Our guest presenters from the AARP Fraud Watch Team presented a number of helpful suggestions. The top scams in the US are identity theft, imposter scams, and telephone and mobile services scams. The presenters pointed out the difference between how we respond to
people who have experienced violent or property crimes, where we offer support and help versus victims of financial crimes, who are made to feel stupid. They suggested a change to an empathetic response that lets people know it’s not their fault; the perpetrators are criminals who are good at their crimes. Victims are more likely to report these crimes with this understanding. Sadly, veterans are particularly targeted by scammers.
A few of the many suggestions offered include:
- Use a gel ink pen for writing checks
- Mail items with checks at the Post Office, not by leaving them in your mailbox
- Develop a refusal script for unwanted solicitations
- Install antivirus software
- Protect your SSN, personal information and passwords
- Monitor your bills and financial accounts- both online and on paper
- Be careful when using wifi out of your own network; don’t access personal information
- Watch over your credit reports and take advantage of the free annual credit reports, spread out across the year from each of the three reporting agencies
- Sign up for the Do Not Call Registry at www.donotcall.gov or 888-382-1222
- Verify charities at www.charitywatch.org or www.charitynetwork.org
- Consider freezing your credit, but remember to unfreeze before purchases or new accounts
- Some useful sites- phishing@irs.gov www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork
A Business Meeting was held after the presentation concluded. The SFCRTA Board member election was held and current officers were reelected for 2023.
Leadership Team
- Frank Cooper: President
- Janess Coffina: Vice President- Membership
- Rhoda Dix: Vice President- Social Security
- Geraldine Petrizzi: Vice President- Scholarship
- Esther Fynn: Vice President- Hospitality
- Rick & Louise Follman: Vice President- Insurance
- Roger Stenz: Vice President- Technology
- Barbara Oppedisano: Vice President- Newsletter
- Rita Ferri: Secretary
- Connie Forder: Treasurer
Rick Follman discussed insurance:
- information meetings were about to happen and he voiced frustration about how the insurance contracting has been carried out and approved without sufficient transparency.
- the ARTC has been seeking information about the insurance contracting negotiations.
- When members have concerns or questions about UHC or OptumRx, they are instructed to call the TRB Escalation Team at (806) 702-5774 or (860) 702-5257.
Rhoda Dix spoke about the importance of our voices and votes regarding the GPO-WEP penalties we encounter with Social Security.
Members who attended the breakfast meeting made voluntary contributions to the Henry Barnard Fund of $392! The SFCRTA Board added to this to send a total of $1000 to this fund that provides support for retired teachers who have financial hardship.
TRB Information
COLA Cost of Living Adjustments- At the recent TRB Meeting, there was a report on the pension fund performance for the fiscal year ending June 30 and the results mean that the COLA for 2023 will be much smaller than those scheduled for 2022 and much smaller than the 8.7%
COLA being applied to Social Security for 2023. One of the active teacher representatives to the TRB asked if any discretion were possible in setting the rates and was told no, the amounts were determined by the results of the pension fund and the details based upon when a person joined the system and when s/he retired.
Here are the rates that were set for 2023, with the exception of the rates for those who retired prior to 1992, who receive their COLA increase in July. Those rates are still to be determined. A complete explanation of how the rates are determined can be found on the TRB website here:
https://portal.ct.gov/TRB/Content/Retired/Retired-Menu/Cost-of-Living-Adjustments
Source- TRB
*Pending information from the Consumer Price Index for twelve months ending November 30.
Monthly Statements from the TRB The TRB has set up enhanced accounting and reporting programs. Some of you may be receiveing monthly email payment statements from the TRB. This will continue under the new system. Those members for whom TRB does not have an
email address, will continue to receive paper statements only when there is a change to their receipts, such as would be triggered by a change in insurance deduction or after a COLA increase. Remember that your tax liability will change when you receive a COLA increase. You may choose to adjust the amount of federal or state tax withheld by completing the forms available here: https://portal.ct.gov/TRB/Content/Retired/Retired-Menu/Forms
Dental Coverage People with certain medical conditions may be eligible for additional coverage. Information is available about the CIGNA Dental Oral Health Integration Program here:
https://my.cigna.com/web/secure/consumer/coverage/ohip
Social Security Fairness update
Following the fight to overturn the patently unfair penalties of the WEP and GPO provisions has been instructive, although supremely disappointing. The latest efforts seemed the most hopeful, as 290 co-sponsors signed onto the bill to overturn these provisions. However, as SocialSecurity Fairness reports:
There are opponents to Fairness in high places!
In August, H.R. 82 reached the magic number of 290 co-sponsors required to demand a floor vote, but still had to wait 25 legislative days before that could be done.
On Sept.16, the 24th legislative day, the Chairperson of the House Ways and Means Committee brought the bill up for review by his committee. That action broke the 25-day rule and prevented the mandatory vote.
The Ways and Means hearing presented little of substance, and the bill was sent back to the floor without any guarantee of a vote.
It seems that the most hopeful path to changing these penalties is during a total reform of Social Security, although most attempts for that sort of reform will focus on limiting benefits instead of restoring lost benefits. It is easy to get disillusioned, but it is important to stay on top of these
efforts.
Energy Cost Resources
For those SFCRTA members who are living in Connecticut, perhaps you are aware that energy costs are projected to increase dramatically. Here is information on a few resources that might be of help to you.
Operation Fuel serves households whose income does not exceed 75% of the State Median Income Guidelines, which include, but are not limited to, the elderly, disabled, working families, or individuals facing a financial crisis. For a family of 1, $49,702 represents 75% of the State Median, a family of 2 amount is $64, 995, and so on. If you have questions, please email them at opfuelapplications@operationfuel.org or call (860) 243-2345.
Electricity rates are scheduled to increase dramatically in January, but other suppliers on energizect.com may offer savings: You can check the prices from other suppliers on energizect.com and find different competing offerings. While Eversource default rate is 24c for the first half of 2023, some suppliers are currently offering 13.79c for a 36-month contract. While this is a longer commitment, under statute (Public Act 21-117), customers can cancel these contracts without penalty, which makes this price comparable to the six-month default service
Membership- Our membership year follows the calendar year, so please renew your membership for 2023.
President’s Message
Southern Fairfield County Retired Teachers Association is an integral part of the structure of the Association of Retired Teachers of Connecticut. We are the largest affiliate in the state. Members of the SFCRTA sit on the ARTC board of directors as well as their Insurance, Legislative, and Membership committees. You receive current information regarding the status of your health insurance plan and your retirement benefits from SFCRTA. Your support and membership in ARTC and SFCRTA are needed to continue its advocacy for retired teachers in Hartford. Retired teachers do not have a union. We do not have a contract with the State. We rely on the Legislature to hear our voices and to keep the State’s promises, such as the 50% reduction on the state income tax for retired teachers’ pensions. Members throughout our eight communities, and ARTC members across the state, volunteer their time to work for you. In addition, the ARTC retains the services of a paid lobbyist to keep us abreast of all legislative matters. Your dues to ARTC and SFCRTA fund this much needed and ongoing advocacy.
Frank Cooper, President, SFCRTA
Our membership goes from – January to December. If you have not yet joined, click here for our membership renewal information for 2023. Remember: Numbers matter and we still face many important issues regarding our pension and health insurance.