Retiree Benefit

Members who retired before September 1, 1999, should consult our Benefits Booklet for more information.

ELIGIBILITY

To qualify for FA Benefit Fund retiree benefits, you must meet the first requirement, either 2A or 2B, and the third requirement listed below:

You must be receiving or be entitled to receive a monthly pension from a New York State retirement system of New York State Optional Retirement Program (e.g., TIAA-CREF.).

and
2A — You must have at least 10 years of full-time or job share employment with Suffolk County, and you leave employment before or after age 55.

or

2B — You retire pursuant to any early retirement incentive.

and
In addition, eligible members who retire may elect to continue coverage for the package of benefits offered by the Fund for retirees and their Continuation-eligible family members (dependents) for as long as the applicable self-pay contributions set by the Fund are paid. The retiree must also have maintained active membership in the Union, as defined by its Constitution, for the ten years preceding retirement. At the time of retirement, the retiree must be an active member in good standing of the Union or, if on approved leave, a member in good standing, and thereafter must maintain membership in the Union and pay the required union dues.

DISABILITY RETIREMENT

In the case of an ordinary (not work-related) disability retirement, the age requirement is waived but you must meet the other requirements. In the case of a disability retirement resulting from work-related illness or injury, the age requirement and the minimum service requirements are waived. Satisfaction of the third requirement is subject to the length of your employment prior to approval of the disability retirement.

While awaiting whether or not your disability retirement is granted, and while you are not retired, you must continue to pay COBRA premiums in order to be eligible to continue Fund benefits into your retirement. If your disability retirement is granted, then your self-pay COBRA premiums will be adjusted retroactively to the effective date of your disability retirement. You may receive a refund if the COBRA rates exceeded the self-pay rates. If the disability retirement is not granted, then you must be eligible as outlined above, and retire, in order to continue Fund benefits on a self-pay basis.

ENROLLMENT REQUIRED FOR RETIREE BENEFITS

In addition, you must complete a retiree enrollment form and return it the Fund Office within sixty (60) days of your retirement date. This enrollment form will indicate the coverage level at which you choose to participate for the next Fund fiscal year (September 1 to August 31).

Eligibility for dependents of retirees and benefits available will be based on the coverage opted by you on the retiree enrollment form within sixty (60) days of your retirement date. In addition, note that you, as a retiree, may enroll for one (1) individual plan, covering yourself only; or two (2) individual plans, covering you and your spouse/enrolled domestic partner only; or one (1) family plan, covering you and all your eligible dependents. However, if you, as a retired member, are married to, or in a domestic partnership with, another retired member, you can choose either one (1) individual plan for each or (1) family plan for both. You may not opt for two (2) individual plans. If enhanced coverage is purchased only for you, you will not be permitted to elect coverage for your dependents at a later date.

COVERED BENEFITS

Eligible retirees will be provided with the following two options of benefits coverage under the Fund:

The Enhanced Plan allows you to obtain the active member’s level of benefits for dental, hearing aid, prescription drug copay reimbursement, optical care, and financial counseling. A self-pay premium is required for this level of coverage.
The Enhanced Plus Plan allows you to enroll in the Fund legal services plan, in addition to the active member’s level of benefits for dental, hearing aid, prescription drug copay reimbursement, optical care, and financial counseling. An additional yearly payment is required for this level of coverage above the Enhanced Plan payment.

Retirees who opt for coverage in the Enhanced Plus Plan will be provided with a yearly opportunity during the month of August to move down to the Enhanced Plan. The effective date for the lesser coverage is September 1.

Eligibility for dependents of retirees is based on the coverage opted by you on the retiree enrollment form. If enhanced coverage was purchased only for you, then any lesser level of coverage chosen at a later time will be provided for you only.

OBTAINING COVERAGE

Coverage for either the Enhanced Plan or the Enhanced Plus Plan requires timely payment of the premium. The premium for these plans may change from year to year. Discounted rates are also available depending on payment frequency. Rates and the discount schedule may be obtained by calling the Fund Office.

If you elect to buy the coverage, you must enroll and commit to a payment schedule for at least a full plan year (September 1 to August 31), except in the case of mid-year retirement. If you elect to enroll in one of the enhanced plans and do not pay the cost of same for the plan year, your coverage will terminate and you will not be entitled to resume participation in any retiree plan of benefits offered by the Fund, ever.

If a retiree dies within the first 15 days of a plan year and no benefits are claimed, the Fund will reimburse the retiree’s full premium to the first surviving class of the following classes of successive preference beneficiaries: the deceased retiree’s a) widow/widower or domestic partner, b) surviving children, c) estate.

RETIRED MEMBERS MARRIED TO ACTIVE MEMBERS

If, upon your retirement, you are eligible to receive Fund coverage as a dependent spouse or enrolled domestic partner of an active member, at no cost to you, then your time to elect retiree benefits is deferred until such time as your spouse/active full-time member retires, resigns, or dies.