In his letter to SSA District Manager Bridgette Camacho, CRA Chairman Lorenzo LG. Cabrera wrote, “the primary reason of this invitation is to educate us, members of the board, about the benefits under the various components of SSA.”
He told Camacho of the current situation of the retirees, how the government has defaulted on its obligation to pay the pension program and how the retirees have not seen any resolution to this.
In as much as they would like to allay fears, pacify misconceptions and level expectations, Cabrera said their group needs to be informed of the basic requirements of the program or benefits that employees normally expect to receive when they retire.
He asked if Camacho could provide them with the criteria that a person must meet to be eligible to receive SS benefits like minimum age requirement and monetary contribution.
He also asked if someone is eligible to receive benefits if he or she meets the age requirement but fails to meet the monetary contribution requirement.
He also asked if the SSA district manager could help enlighten them if CNMI retirees who receive SS benefits will be receiving increases in the event of the Fund’s demise.
As there is a growing concern among the retirees of the Fund lasting for two and half years, the CRA is also requesting if the SSA could issue a press release to address the concerns of the retirees to obviate the need to respond to a deluge of calls or inquiries the SSA may get.
The CRA directors are also looking forward to having a dialogue with Gov. Benigno R. Fitial on the resolution the group passed last month.
Their group’s resolution is urging Fitial to instruct the secretary of Finance “to diligently and conscientiously monitor daily receipts of funds received by the government and from which appropriate substantial amounts for remittance to the Retirement Fund as required by the court order.”
