Empire Center Compiles Latest “Double-Dip” Waivers for Under-65 Government Retirees

[4248]

At least 856 New York state and local government employees under age 65 have received special permission to collect both public pensions and full government paychecks, according to data posted today on SeeThroughNY, the Empire Center’s transparency website.
- Waivers issued under Section 211 of the state Retirement and Social Security Law allow public-sector retirees under 65 to return to work—or remain in jobs from which they have just “retired”—and exceed the $30,000 limit on earnings from public employment while collecting pension benefits.
- Retirees who are 65 or older are exempt from the waiver requirement and can collect full salaries and full pension benefits. Applications for waivers, including those that have been rejected, can be viewed here.
- - As of July 1, 2017, the latest data show, 856 public employees had received such waivers, which is down slightly from the 870 waivers effective January 1, 2017. Waivers are often granted retroactively, concealing the number in force at any given time. Agencies are not required to proactively disclose the waivers, which are publicly available only thanks to efforts by the Empire Center to obtain and process them.
- Among the waivers in effect on July 1:
387 were approved for New York City, with 160 going to District Attorney offices;
241 were approved for local governments, with the most going to Nassau County (34), Suffolk County (23) and Monroe County (15);
174 were approved for New York State agencies, including 96 at the Law Department and 24 at SUNY; and
41 were for school districts outside New York City.
- A 2014 analysis of active waivers by the Empire Center found more than half were being used to employ retired law enforcement officers in investigative positions, such as District Attorney offices. Public employers are required by law to first conduct “extensive recruitment efforts” to find a qualified non-retired person before a waiver is granted, but it is unclear that these efforts are being carried out.
- The Empire Center, based in Albany, is an independent, not-for-profit, non-partisan think tank dedicated to promoting policies that can make New York a better place to live, work and raise a family.


Expose and end "Double Dipping"

[gorja]

At least 856 New York state and local government employees under age 65 have received special permission to collect both public pensions and full government paychecks, according to data posted today on SeeThroughNY, the Empire Center’s transparency website.
- Waivers issued under Section 211 of the state Retirement and Social Security Law allow public-sector retirees under 65 to return to work—or remain in jobs from which they have just “retired”—and exceed the $30,000 limit on earnings from public employment while collecting pension benefits.
- Retirees who are 65 or older are exempt from the waiver requirement and can collect full salaries and full pension benefits. Applications for waivers, including those that have been rejected, can be viewed here.
- - As of July 1, 2017, the latest data show, 856 public employees had received such waivers, which is down slightly from the 870 waivers effective January 1, 2017. Waivers are often granted retroactively, concealing the number in force at any given time. Agencies are not required to proactively disclose the waivers, which are publicly available only thanks to efforts by the Empire Center to obtain and process them.
- Among the waivers in effect on July 1:
387 were approved for New York City, with 160 going to District Attorney offices;
241 were approved for local governments, with the most going to Nassau County (34), Suffolk County (23) and Monroe County (15);
174 were approved for New York State agencies, including 96 at the Law Department and 24 at SUNY; and
41 were for school districts outside New York City.
- A 2014 analysis of active waivers by the Empire Center found more than half were being used to employ retired law enforcement officers in investigative positions, such as District Attorney offices. Public employers are required by law to first conduct “extensive recruitment efforts” to find a qualified non-retired person before a waiver is granted, but it is unclear that these efforts are being carried out.
- The Empire Center, based in Albany, is an independent, not-for-profit, non-partisan think tank dedicated to promoting policies that can make New York a better place to live, work and raise a family.


Expose and end "Double Dipping"

https://www.seethroughny.net/waivers

[leftWNYbecauseofBS]

Don't hate the player. Hate the game.

In the private sector, there is nothing holding back people from 'double dipping' if they are lucky enough to find themselves in that position. Plenty of times people cash out of one opportunity and start another.

Hate the game here. Hate the generous pensions and health care plans for people with 20 years on the job.

[WNYresident]

And did you ever notice the players never really make an effort to change it.

[leftWNYbecauseofBS]

And did you ever notice the players never really make an effort to change it.

Well, of course, they don't. Do you go out and try to make your 401K underperform to help others? As I said, you can't blame the people in the system.

The real idiots were the ones who were not in the system but voted for the politicians who allowed for these pension plans. Blindly voting blue and falling for public sector workers crying foul around election time. Guess what, those with NYS pensions are very quick to nope the f out of NYS once they start cashing those checks.

[4248]

In the case of elected and appointed tax funded players - most of them helped quietly pass the rules/laws ! They didn't tell people how it would enhance their futures and pocket books - they say "We did this for the worker" !

We elected people to serve a term - not to hand them a career ! Did you know it takes them 5 years to be vested(entitled to) retirement benefits. It takes anyone else 10 years -

Its "Part of the Game" - that statement burns my arse !To them it is a game - but there's no enforced rules, standards or accountability in their game. Its a tax funded "game" so no one cares how much they rip us off for. That's the problem - people just keep saying "That's how it works" - no we have allowed them to be unethical.

Then they claim to be held to a "higher standard" = BS -they are treated as if they are some how special people ! But your right - they are "Players" and we get played !

[WNYresident]

Well, of course, they don't. Do you go out and try to make your 401K underperform to help others? As I said, you can't blame the people in the system.

The real idiots were the ones who were not in the system but voted for the politicians who allowed for these pension plans. Blindly voting blue and falling for public sector workers crying foul around election time. Guess what, those with NYS pensions are very quick to nope the f out of NYS once they start cashing those checks.

I agree.

I question people who were on a town board for years deciding to leave the "area" they supposedly made better while they were in office. If you did such a good job why are you leaving?

[leftWNYbecauseofBS]

I agree.

I question people who were on a town board for years deciding to leave the "area" they supposedly made better while they were in office. If you did such a good job why are you leaving?

That's the crazy thing. Look at Cheektowaga. It's been run into the ground by the town board for years. Your budget is a mess, and you have more issues than solutions. But for all of those elections and paid votes...it's not like town board members make a massive amount of money. It's not the same as someone in Congress. These were people who gave the store away and got very little, personally, in return by and large. Just stupidity really.

[WNYresident]

You are not telling me anything I don't know.

We have Brian running this round. Seriously a really a nice guy but...

On his facebook page

I believe that the foundation of any thriving community should include education, the arts, businesses and recreation. If we want to attract strong companies to the area with better jobs, we must work to enhance and expand these categories.

How does this apply to solve the issues our town current has?

"Work and to enhance and expand these categories"

Education, the arts, businesses and recreation.

It's all canceled out when you have the highest taxes in the area. I have never had anyone stop in the shop and say "I'm leaving Cheektowaga because we don't have a good education system, not enough "Arts" or recreation activities.

It's always about taxes.

[Dan Roman]

At least he didn’t send out a scary mailer with the senior center doors locked shut. I wonder how that idiot is doing nowadays ?

[WNYresident]

Remember this one






The group has so much BS isn't not funny anymore.