Make a goal in 2019 to stay up-to-date with your benefits!  Sign-up for our newsletter, which includes online advocacy campaigns. Be the first to know when your benefits may be threatened, along with what you can do to help!

I hope you’ll choose to make year-end contributions, which are tax deductible, to POB! One-time and monthly gifts, of any amount, help keep POB’s advocacy efforts moving forward, as well as communications like this going.

Please mail them to Protect Our Benefits Trust, P.O. 210250, San Francisco, CA 94121-0250, or click here to donate today. Thank you for your continued support! 

CCSF V. SFERS (PRE-1996)

As of the date of this writing, no Court date has been set.

There are several cases set to be heard by the State Supreme Court regarding pension benefits and the “California Rule,” though these cases deal with active employees. POB is always concerned in any case that will test the “California Rule.” The first of these cases, Cal Fire Local 2881 v. California Public Employees Retirement System, is set for oral arguments before the State Supreme Court on December 5, 2018.

The “California Rule” was set forth in the 1955  case of “Allen v. the City of Long Beach” when the City of Long Beach sought to raise the amount of employees’ retirement contributions from 2% to 10%. The Court held that the proposed charter amendment impaired the contract rights of employees it adversely affected. This became to be known as the “California Rule” – changes to pension plans may be made, but if they result in a disadvantage to employees, they should be accompanied by comparable new advantages.

The “California Rule” had a direct bearing on the POB case vs. CCSF, where a change in the Supplemental COLA requirements established by the 2011 Prop C adversely affected the contract rights of current and retired City employees.

For more information on the case, CLICK HERE.

Health Service System

For those retirees who enrolled on the Delta Dental PPO, be aware of the new “SmileWay” program being offered.  Beginning January 1, 2019, Delta Dental PPO enrollees who have certain chronic conditions (diabetes, heart disease. HIV/AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis and/or stroke) will be able to receive an annual periodontal scaling and root planning procedure (deep cleaning of the gums) as well as more frequent annual teeth cleaning or periodontal maintenance services.  Eligible members can sign up for the program after January 1, 2019, by contacting Delta Dental customer service directly at (888) 335-8227.

SFERS Retirement Board

In the first five months of the FY 2018-19 (July – November) the SFERS investments have returned 0.64%.

It’s been a tough month for Stock Market in November and not so hot for December. Stock Market corrections happen often. What we need to realize is that stock market corrections really aren’t an issue if you remain focused on the long term as is SFERS.

Protect Our Benefits

Glad you’re here! Welcome! From all of us at POB, wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Your continuing contributions and support are greatly appreciated and are tax deductible. Please mail them to Protect Our Benefits Trust, P.O. 210250, San Francisco, Ca. 94121-0250 or CLICK HERE to donate today!

By Skip McKinney

 

Protect Our Benefits is an organization whose goals are to enhance the dignity and quality of life of all San Francisco City and County retirees and preserve their health and retirement benefits. The opinions are those of the writer.