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Early Retirement Incentive Program
7/15/2010
- Cheryl A. Felice
EARLY RETIREMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM
AME UPDATE – 7-15-2010
County Executive Levy has issued an All-Employees Memorandum, dated July 14, 2010, on New York State’s Early Retirement Incentive Program. Suffolk County, through Resolution 1724-2010, has chosen to offer Part A to county employees as a targeted incentive for eligible titles.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Notification must be given to the county by JULY 30, 2010 to be considered for eligibility.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have already filed with NYS Retirement System with a retirement date of August 23, 2010, you must file an amended form – changing the date to no later than August 21, 2010.
• RETIREMENT INCENTIVE - Those employees deemed eligible to participate in this ERI, and who retire under this program, shall receive additional retirement service credit (not to exceed three years/36 months) calculated as follows: one month for every year of pension service credit.
• OPEN PERIOD – The open period during which eligible Suffolk County employees may retire and receive an additional retirement benefit commences July 23, 2010 and extends through August 21, 2010.
• FILE ASAP - You must submit your paperwork as soon as possible if you are considering retiring under this ERI; your paperwork can be rescinded if you change your mind. Your paperwork can also be rescinded if your position is determined ineligible to participate in this ERI.
• ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA – To be eligible, Suffolk County employees must:
o Be a member of NYS & Local Employees’ Retirement System;
o Be in a position designated as eligible by County Executive Levy;
o Meet all the general retirement requirements as mandated by NYS Retirement System (see NYS Retirement System website, or Levy’s AEM on Suffolk County Government webpage)
o Be on payroll as of 2/1/2010, and continue in active service to 7/22/2010. NOTE: A leave of absence with pay is considered active service. Approved leave without pay, not to exceed 12 weeks, between 2/1/2010 and 7/22/2010, is also considered active service.
o File the form entitled: Application for the 2010 Incentive Service Retirement (http://www.osc.state.ny.us/retire/forms/rs6037-u.pdf) with NYS and Local Employees’ Retirement System with a retirement date during the open period, no less than 14 days before the effective date of retirement;
o IMPORTANT – Provide completed on-line County Notice of Intent with the County Executive’s Budget Office no later than 21 days before the end of the open period (July 30, 2010) and be off the payroll by the close of business on 8/21/2010.
o Retire during open period;
o You must be in a title that is targeted for inclusion in the ERI program. County Executive Levy will make the final determination as to which titles, in which departments, will be targeted.
o If the number of interested county employees in a title exceeds the number of positions that are targeted, employee eligibility will be based on seniority.
County Executive Levy has determined that, at this time, the following list will not be targeted for inclusion in the Early Retirement Program:
• Department heads
• Consumer Affairs Department
• Police Department
• Exempt titles in Law Department
• Members covered by Deputy Sheriffs PBA; Parks Police Unit; and park Police Officers IV
• Members covered by Suffolk County Probation Officers Assoc. Unit
• Members covered by Suffolk County Deputy Sheriffs Assoc. Unit
• Members covered by Suffolk County Correction Officers Assoc. Unit
• Emergency Service Dispatchers and Operators – all levels
• Child Protective Services Unit
• John J. Foley Skilled Nursing Facility employees (JJFSNF employees will be eligible should Resolution 1472-2010, “A Local Law authorizing the County Executive to Executive Agreements for the sale of the JJFSNF” be passed by SC Legislature at its scheduled 8-17/2010 meeting.)
• Those employees whose salary is at least 50% funded with federal and/or NYS aid will be considered on a case-by-case basis; however, due to the minimal financial benefit to county, “they most likely will not be approved for inclusion.” (DSS workers are advised to contact their payroll departments to ascertain the percentage of federal/state aid reimbursement is reflected in their individual salaries.)
• The final decision as to the number of positions that will be targeted for inclusion in this ERI will not be made until after all Notices of Intent to participate have been received by the Budget Office on July 30, 2010. The County Executive has determined that employees will not be guaranteed eligibility to participate in this ERI until after the deadline for notifying the county has passed and final operational and budgetary plans are complete.
• IMPORTANT – Eligible employees between the ages of 50 and 55 who retire under the ERI will also qualify for continued health insurance as a retiree, in accordance with the applicable union contract, so long as employees have a minimum of ten years of cumulative service as a full-time Suffolk County employee, of which no fewer than five years of continuous service time must be contiguous to retirement into the applicable retirement system. Without the ERI, the fully paid health coverage would not be available until age 55.
• Application Procedures – Complete the “County Notice of Intent” available online by following the links on the Suffolk County Government home webpage. All inquiries may be directed to the County Executive’s office at ERIP@suffolkcountyny.gov.
County Executive Levy has distributed his All-Employees Memorandum, dated July 14, 2010, to every Suffolk County worker at his/her worksite. Look for this important document for more detailed information regarding the ERI.
If you have any questions, you may call your AME union for assistance at 589-8400. We are continuing to monitor and report all updates on this important issue for AME members.
Unity Wins!
Cheryl A. Felice
President