PA officials brace for 4000 spring retirements

by Damon Boughamer
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Penna. (PRCN, 10 April 2007) – Pension administrators are offering some advice to state workers as the system braces for a wave of retirements over the next two and a half months.

According to Robert Gentzel, a spokesman with the State Employees' Retirement System, about 4000 state workers are expected to retire between now and July...

Gentzel says the system has posted information on its website to assist employees as they contemplate the sometimes-difficult decision.

Workers also have the option of speaking with retirement counselors at offices in Bensalem; Harrisburg; Hazleton; Montoursville; Pittsburgh; Seneca, Venango County; or State College.

"Because of a change in the contract for state employees – without getting into all the details – it is going to make the retired employee health benefit less attractive to those who retire after July
1 than to those who retire before then," Gentzel says.

SERS hopes to have all of the thousands of retirements processed within ten weeks of the receipt of paperwork.