(by Gary Day)

I am thinking about taking a leave of absence for the next school year. What union memberships will I retain while on leave? If you go on a leave of absence, you do not remain a member of the MTA. You can however, remain an associate member of NYSUT. That would allow you to maintain any benefits that you currently purchase from NYSUT Member Benefits Trust. You must contact the membership department at NYSUT headquarters to get the associate member enrollment form.
My TRS Profile shows that my in-service death benefit is much greater than 3 times my annual salary. Is the profile correct? It probably is correct if you are a member of Tier 1 and are now eligible to retire without any service credit-related reductions in your pension. The in-service death benefit has been changed into what is called the Death Gamble Benefit. For additional information contact TRS (800-348-7298, Ext. 6110).

I currently purchase my Met Life auto and homeowners insurance from NYSUT Member Benefits via payroll deduction. How will my payments be made if I were to retire this July? If you are going to retire you must contact Member Benefits and they will temporarily change your method of payment from payroll deduction to monthly payment by check. After your pension with TRS is established you will be able to convert your payment method to pension deduction. (Pension deduction is also available for Vote/Cope contributions.)

The local optometrist told my husband that he was not eligible for vision benefits? Why is this so? The vision benefit provided by the MTA Benefit Fund is for individual coverage only. If you desire family coverage you must purchase that from NYSUT Member Benefits.

Any questions regarding retirement, salary, or the Benefit Fund, may be e-mailed to: questions@middletownteachers.org. All questions will receive a reply; some may appear in future newsletters.