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In California, teacher's medical coverage typically ends at age 65. Cops, Fire, and Corrections have it for life.
Teachers have always paid 8% of their gross pay into their retirement. Cops, Fire, and Corrections paid nothing until recently.
Teacher also encounter the WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision) which reduces earned Social Security to a fraction of what they would otherwise receive.
I’m in VA. We can keep or healthcare coverage for life, we just have to pay more for it. For example, the Kaiser family coverage we pay $530/month for would be $1,661 in retirement. For two people it goes from $424/mo o $1,313. For an individual it would be $606.
The big question for retirees is not just what the pension is, BUT can they collect Social Security AND their pension in the state that they're in? Then throw in this little nugget. Does my state tax my pension and/or my social security payments? Here's one more variable. What about the costs of health insurance for the retired teacher? The type of coverage made available changes dramatically from state to state as well.
It's untruthful to make an a blanket statement like the OP did. MASSIVE differences between what a retired teacher can get by simply crossing state lines.
Don't forget about the Windfall Elimination Provision for Social Security. A person in a state retirement system isn't going to get their full Social Security unless they have paid into it for a looong time. Thirty years is a long time. You would need to plan ahead and work a second job that paid at least the minimum qualifying amount into Social security.
You guys keep talking about how teachers don't pay into Social Security and are subject to WEP. That's only true in twelve states while in three it depends on the school system. In the rest teachers pay into Social Security just like anybody.
You guys keep talking about how teachers don't pay into Social Security and are subject to WEP. That's only true in twelve states while in three it depends on the school system. In the rest teachers pay into Social Security just like anybody.
It's a pretty big deal to those of us who are affected. I taught in California for 32 years, then moved to Hawaii where I have now taught an additional 8 years. I am currently paying into SS but will be faced with the WEP when I do apply for SS (at 70).
I qualified for SS in California due to summer jobs I held while teaching and work I did before becoming a teacher. It sucks that I currently pay the same amount out of each check as people who will receive full SS, yet I will receive a drastically reduced amount.
It's a pretty big deal to those of us who are affected. I taught in California for 32 years, then moved to Hawaii where I have now taught an additional 8 years. I am currently paying into SS but will be faced with the WEP when I do apply for SS (at 70).
I qualified for SS in California due to summer jobs I held while teaching and work I did before becoming a teacher. It sucks that I currently pay the same amount out of each check as people who will receive full SS, yet I will receive a drastically reduced amount.
I earned it but won't receive it!
It's a big deal certainly but my point was that not all teachers are subject to it as is stated as a stone fact time and time again. It's not as pernicious as people saying that teachers retire after 20 years with a pension of 150% of highest salary and free health care but it still needs corrected.
If you qualified due to summer work you may want to check again.
It's a big deal certainly but my point was that not all teachers are subject to it as is stated as a stone fact time and time again. It's not as pernicious as people saying that teachers retire after 20 years with a pension of 150% of highest salary and free health care but it still needs corrected.
If you qualified due to summer work you may want to check again.
I've checked repeatedly and pled my case to SS. I get a teacher pension from CALSTRS so my SS is drastically reduced by WEP.
CTA/NEA have actively tried to get this law repealed for decades, with no success.
Congress is determined to punish us with WEP, calling it "double-dipping". If it affected them, I'm sure it would be repealed.
People in the states who pay SS as teachers get their pensions plus full SS.
Don't forget about the Windfall Elimination Provision for Social Security. A person in a state retirement system isn't going to get their full Social Security unless they have paid into it for a looong time. Thirty years is a long time. You would need to plan ahead and work a second job that paid at least the minimum qualifying amount into Social security.
WEP affects less than 2 million people nationwide and I am one of them. There is a strong movement to repeal it, along with the Government Pension Offset law.
An extra $500 per month for me would help offset inflation being caused by the massive giveaways to people who refuse to work.
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