Comptroller and State Labor Unions Announce Disability Pension Reforms

A coalition of state employee unions and Comptroller Sean Scanlon announced an agreement Wednesday to reform Connecticut’s disability pension system to ensure that recipients of disability benefits fully disclose any additional income that might affect their eligibility.

The reforms will allow the Comptroller’s Office to identify potential abuse of Connecticut’s pension system while ensuring that deserving retirees continue to receive their benefits.

“The State of Connecticut’s disability pension system is vital for ensuring that our former state employees, many of whom became disabled during their dedicated public service, receive the support they need,” Scanlon said in a press release. “Any abuse of the system, however rare, is unacceptable. The reforms announced today will help us identify potential fraud and strengthen the system for those who truly need it.”

The new policy is the product of collaborative meetings of key stakeholders, according to the press release. It also follows a series of high-profile reports on workers compensation payments by Hearst Connecticut Media.

Although disability retirees are already required to report income and employment information to the state through an annual survey, the reforms announced Wednesday will give the Comptroller’s Office tools to enforce compliance.

For instance, retirees will now receive additional communication related to the reporting requirements. Benefit recipients who do not provide the relevant information after three notifications will see their benefits reduced.

In a press release, Gov. Ned Lamont said the reforms would ensure that money allocated for the state pension system is available for those who are eligible to receive it.

“Many state employees have responsibilities that sometimes put them in dangerous situations, and those workers should absolutely have access to protections in the unfortunate circumstance in which they may get injured while on the job,” Lamont said. “Taxpayers should also receive protections to ensure that the money being put into the disability pension system is not being abused.”

Drew Stoner, a spokesperson for the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition, said the reforms had resulted from collaboration between the labor coalition and the state.

“Union members who are disabled and unable to work rely on disability retirement to make ends meet and provide them with critical healthcare benefits,” Stoner said. “And while there is still a lot of work to be done to protect our most vulnerable workers, we are grateful for the work that Comptroller Scanlon has done to ensure fair and equitable processes.”

Posted by Hugh McQuaid