The United States Social Security Administration provides Supplemental Security Income to disabled individuals under the age of 65. Popularly referred to as the Welfare Reform Act of 1996, applicable to the commonwealth through Covenant § 502(a)(1), individuals asserting a disability may also have a potential supplemental income provided them. Individuals asserting a disability interest from the Retirement Fund must also comply with applicable commonwealth law, which the Fund vigorously upholds. Human resources offices are also encouraged to make employees aware of the applicability of these federal benefit programs to their agencies’ employees.
Employees’ withdrawals of their respective contributions from the Fund has implications for the employees far beyond the instant availability of the funds received. The Retirement Fund is a pension fund based on the annuity received from the employee and employer. Employers’ failures to remit their fair share of their contribution serves to diminish their employees’ interests in their annuity. The annuity is a shared obligation of both the employer and employee. The Retirement Fund is a co-shared annuity pension fund, rather than a welfare fund. Employees whose employment relationship is funded, in part or in whole, by federal funds do have the option to contact the appropriate federal authorities.
MARK A. AGUON
Administrator
Retirement Fund
