ALBANY, NY — The New York State Legislature passed legislation Monday night, June 20, 2011, to boost State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s ability to catch those who abuse the state pension system. The bill grants the Comptroller’s office access to State Department of Taxation and Finance's wage reporting system to identify New York State and Local Retirement System retirees working for local governments who exceed the state’s post-retirement earnings limitation. If a state or local government employee earns more than those limits, the Comptroller has the authority to suspend and recoup any excess pension payments.
"I've been pushing hard to end pension abuse," DiNapoli said. "This legislation is the next piece of the puzzle. Our message is clear: Everyone must play by the same rules. This legislation will allow government agencies to work together to reduce fraud, waste and abuse.”
The Retirement and Social Security Law (RSSL) places limits on the amount that may be earned by a retiree who returns to public employment without it affecting his or her pension payments. Most retirees are covered by Section 212 of the RSSL, which allows retirees under age 65 to earn up to $30,000 per calendar year without any pension penalty. Currently, the Retirement System annually compares retiree information with payroll data for state employees. However, no similar mechanism existed to check payroll information of the thousands of local public employers statewide.
DiNapoli's legislation would amend Section 171-a of the Tax Law to grant the Comptroller's Office access to Tax and Finance's wage reporting system to match the Retirement System's records with information reported by local governments to Tax and Finance. The match would allow the Comptroller's Office to identify retirees improperly collecting a state pension and a local government salary.
Comments 17
What a bunch of crap…
Regan got $60,000 FY 2010-2011. Check that out mr. Aris. Not the $30,ooo he claimed to ge getting.
people are screaming for pension reform because
the present pension funds will run out
in a couple of years…its costing billions
and there is no revenue to cover it read the new york times article..this problem is
endemic wherever unions had a chance to
extort deals from polticians…now the party is over
I am under the impression that the state
already reformed the pension. New people
that are hired are under a new tier, I am
not sure of specifics but they have to work
more than 20 years and contribute 3% or
so to the pension system, and are capped
on final year o.t. at around 20%. So I can not
understand why people are still screaming for
pension reform.
anon you can kiss my >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Based upon your illogical ranting and raving you should be the first one to be doled-douche bag.
read the main article in the new york times today
that should be an eye opener…
I SAY WE GO AFTER ALL THE WELL FARE RECIEVERS WHO DO NOTHING ALL DAY BUT GET HIGH. LETS GROW SOME BALLS IN THIS STATE AND START TESTING FOR DRUGS. THEN WE WILL SAVE MONEY. LEAVE THE GUY WHO GOES TO WORK FOR 16 PLUS HOURS A DAY ALONE.
HATERS HATERS HATERS GET ON THAT FREE CHEESE LINES SCUMBAGS< AND LEAVE THE WORKING MAN ALONE. WE ARE PLAYING BY THE RULES.
there is a difference between “earning it legally”
and earning it because of an unwritten rule that the
older retiring workers get the overtime exclusively
to the extent it can be shown that supervisors made
conscious efforts to direct overtime to only those
about to retire for the sole purpose of enhancing their
pensions and that the distribution of overtime was
not made randomly then I beleive an argument can be
made that although legal it violated the spirit of the
overtime provisions and should be modified for those
receiving outlandish pensions that are multiples of
their salaries..at least it should be looked into
by the comptroller’s office or the ag….courts of
equity can do almost anything
Change the damn rules that’s how.
How would you propose to “claw back” pension money that was earned legally, within the rules of the pension system?
harry wilson should have been the comptroller..he
owed nobody nothin…he wasn’t the product of a back
room deal..and he would have quickly and fiercely
gotten rid of pension abuse whether its the kind outlined above or the payment of pensions based on
overtime…in fact claw back is necessary for all
pensions which are based on abuse of the system….
legal or not
no it’s not just you
this is sick and corrupt.
this bastard has known what has happened in Yonkers for years…he has warned against it.
what does this prick want…congratulations?
Napoli do your job and identify the people you are accusing.
if not you are just another piece of shit politician
there is no surprise here.
Unless your Billy Reagan and they hire you back just under the limit while you collect a huge pension.
There is only one way to tackle pension abuse. That is to not allow anyone to collect a pension until they reach retirement age, 62, 65, 70 etc. This would also stop the double dippin’ which is way out of control. Simply put you cannot get a pension until you have stopped working. This would also help the unemployment figures as if you had no double dippers, you ‘d have more employed.
All sick leave, holidays must be used, if not you lose them. This crap about gathering an extra years pay over a lifetime and being paid in today’s dollars is just plain crazy.
Q: Just asking, how did we allow all of this to get so far out of control? A: Politicians that’s how. They have bent over backwards and blow in the wind.