Disability retirement commission holds hearings

The Disability Pension Commission, created last year to study all disability provisions of the Massachusetts contributory retirement system, held two public hearings last month covering three topics: statutory qualifications for benefits, the benefits approval process, and the financial impact of the current system.

The commission’s goal is to protect the integrity of the system and to consider opportunities to improve it. The commission is made up of legislators and representatives for labor, retirees and municipalities.

At the hearings, members heard testimony about the adequacy and clarity of the statutory qualifications for benefits and the financial impact of existing ordinary disability, accidental disability, and involuntary retirements.

At a hearing in Worcester on Oct. 18, Charlton Town Administrator Robin Craver spoke about her experience with the system.

“Municipal officials need the flexibility to work with employees to see if there are other positions suitable for them in the community,” she said. “Often we have employees who are perfectly capable of fulfilling municipal duties, but the incentives of a disability pension and the parameters of the system make it difficult to reassign people.”

The commission plans to hold a series of additional meetings before presenting recommendations to the Legislature.