In 2001, Massachusetts introduced RetirementPlus, a program that allows teachers to retire a little earlier if they increase the amount they contribute to their pension to 11 percent of their salary. Teachers hired before July 1, 2001, needed to elect to join RetirementPlus when it was enacted through an often-confusing process that led many to believe they were automatically enrolled, only later learning that they were not.

The Massachusetts House has included language in its version of the budget that that would create a fair and clear pathway for teachers hired before July 1, 2001, to have a new opportunity to join RetirementPlus. Unfortunately the Senate did not include this language in its version of the budget. The next step in the budget process is for a conference committee to develop a compromise version that will be sent to the Governor's desk. The conference committee will determine whether a new enrollment opportunity for RetirementPlus is included in the budget. In addition, there are two bills that have been filed that would do the same (H.2932 & S.1884), these bills are on a separate track and timeline.

CALL AND EMAIL YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS NOW! Ask them to urge the conference committee to include a RetirementPlus fix in the final version of the FY26 budget. You can find your legislators' phone numbers by clicking here.

More information is available here.