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For decades, Maine’s disabled public service retirees were financially harmed by the punitive Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS) Social Security Disability offset. This policy let MainePERS collect full contributions while withholding significant portions of disability benefits for the small group who also qualified for Social Security disability. The employee and employer (taxpayers) contributions from their public service job had paid into both Social Security and MainePERS.
In 2025, the Legislature unanimously passed LD 1638. LD 1638 repeals the offset effective this month and restores fairness to the benefit calculation. I believe that was the right and moral step — disability retirement is an earned benefit, not a loophole to close. With limited release of the underpayments, about $4.4 million in total belonging to these 50 disabled retirees sits in the MainePERS retirement trust fund, accruing investment earnings.
I urge the MainePERS Board of Trustees to vote during the rulemaking held at their monthly meeting on Sept. 11 to release the underpaid benefits owed to those 50 harmed Maine workers, now disabled retirees. Justice and fiduciary responsibilities require full repayment and fair treatment of all disabled members going forward.
Susan Hawes
Portland
