Delayed payments to retired teachers could put them at risk financially, leaving some to use savings or take out loans.
Delayed payments to retired teachers could put them at risk financially, leaving some to use savings or take out loans.FAIRBANKS, Alaska - Recently retired teachers have been notified that their retirement pay will be delayed by 12 to 14 weeks, leaving some former educators in a state of financial burden and risk.
“It’s a very very bad problem,” said Sen. Scott Kawasaki, the state senator for District P in Fairbanks. Many spend decades in Alaska’s communities and schools reaching a large portion of the population. Educators across the state impact their neighbors and community through the classroom by providing the workforce with the next generation of workers. Some even go beyond their duties and work as coaches or in other leadership roles to help further empower and educate children as well as the state. However, some say the state government has failed them after they received a notice saying their first retirement paychecks could come many months after their jobs are over. Paychecks they have paid into over many years. “It’s just kind of a shock right now to find this out,” said Hannibal Grubis, a recently retired math teacher from West Valley High School. “I’m retiring and I should be getting my first check in July.” Now the earliest he will see that paycheck is in September. That means Grubis and many educators like him who recently retired will be left financially stranded from a system they have dedicated their careers to. “This is a debt that’s owed.” said Kawasaki. According to the notice sent out by the Division of Retirement and Benefits, the delay is caused by staffing shortages. The temporary loss of income will be very impactful as teachers in Alaska do not receive social security benefits. That means many will have to take out loans or use any savings they have just to make ends meet. “I’m lucky in that I have a husband that can help pick up our bills, but I will spend most, if not all, of my savings,” said Amy Gallaway a recently retired civics teacher from West Valley High School. “I will lose out on interest, I will have to sell investments, I have a chronic health condition that requires me to spend a minimum of $500 a month out of pocket that insurance doesn’t cover and I’m not sure that I’m going to be able to go to the doctor.” While there is no lack of money for these former educators, the delay could go beyond the 14 weeks mentioned in the notice which puts retirees in a more desperate position. “I called the Division of Retirement and realized that I am going to have to cover all my own expenses possibly until November, December or January,” Gallaway said. If that happens some former educators may find themselves supplementing income with a new job if they can find employment. “People will probably see me on the side of the road cutting wood to try and make it,” said Thomas Kennedy, a former history teacher at West Valley High School. “It’s just not really right that I’m going to have to really get into a survival type situation as we kind of have a single income household to make it during this time.” Grubis said he also heard other state employees might have gotten the same notice. If that turns out to be true, that would be a major “red flag” according to Grubis. It could also put many more Alaskans in financial strife. According to Sen. Kawasaki, there is a possible solution for a short term remedy. “Under emergency regulations, there is an opportunity for the governor to use that regulation which would pay out or allow the governor to pay out 66% of what an anticipated earning would be,” Kawasaki explained. “That’s normally done under emergencies but I think there’s a lot of folks, a lot of these teachers again without the benefit of social security that are sort of left on their own that can’t wait those 12 weeks or 14 weeks.” ‘Master manipulator’: Sister of man accused of killing mother, 4-year-old child speaks out following tragedyAK Division of Elections updates policies for registration, absentee voting, etc.
Hannibal Grubis Thomas Kennedy Amy Gallaway West Valley High School Retirement Senator Scott Kawasaki Governor
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