December 2017 eNews

Year-End Updates

The final 2017 pension payment will be direct deposited on December 29th, the last business day of the month. Note, the December pension paycheck stub is also your year-end statement. All benefit recipients will receive it in the mail. You may want to file it with the rest of your tax documents.

Additionally, you can view your pension statement online at mass.gov/payinfo. Your MSRB ID is located on your statement below your name. First-time users, please note: the default password is your MSRB ID plus the last four digits of your SSN, and you MUST check the retiree box.

The official "Form 1099-R" for 2017 tax reporting purposes will be mailed by the end of January 2018. As such, please be sure to notify the Board of any change of address. If needed, the Board's Change of Address form is available for download from its website at mass.gov/retirement.

Be sure to check the Board's website, Facebook and Twitter pages for the latest updates!

AARP Social Media Scams

Scams on social media have a way of getting around fast. Your friends will unknowingly share a link to a coupon that seems like a great deal, but by clicking that link you are in danger of losing money, and even your identity. Be on the lookout for some of these common scams:

Shopping Scam:

These scams are designed specifically to look like real ads for goods that are most certainly phony. Your first red flag is a rock bottom price. If a price is too good to be true, it usually is, make sure it is something you research further. The scammers’ goal is to get your credit card information as soon as possible through ads that comes sometimes even look like legitimate sponsored posts. If you see an ad that was posted on your account without your permission, it is wise to change your password immediately.

Genealogy Scam:

Researching your family history is most certainly an interesting endeavor and has been proven to be great with the help of secure websites. Unfortunately, since these websites require a plethora of personal information to research your past, it is a perfect opportunity for scammers to create fake genealogy programs. There are many look-alike sponsored pages, ads, and websites offering you genealogy information in return for your personal information and money. Before you engage in these programs, take the time to verify the source and its reputation.

Is there something you would like us to communicate in an upcoming Retiree eNews Bulletin? If so, let us know!

Please e-mail your request and/or comments to MSRBCommunications@tre.state.ma.usWe look forward to hearing from you!

Past issues of our newsletter publications can be found on our website

Quick links: Visit our website: www.mass.gov/retirement

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Did You Know?

MSRB's offices will be closed on Monday, December 25th in observance of Christmas Day, and on Monday, January 1st in observance of New Years Day.

Board staff wishes everyone a happy and healthy holiday season!

Health Insurance Counseling

The SHINE (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone) Program provides free health insurance information and counseling to all Massachusetts residents with Medicare and their caregivers. People who have Medicare or who are about to become eligible for Medicare, can meet with a counselor to learn about benefits and options available. A counselor will review programs that help people with limited income to pay health care costs.

You can reach a SHINE Counselor at (800) 243-4636, press 3 or press 5 if calling from cell phone. TTY (877) 610-0241.

What Do I Need to be Aware of Living Overseas in Retirement?

What Do I Need to be Aware of Living Overseas in Retirement?

For many, living overseas in retirement is a dream come true! If you are currently living overseas, or plan to move overseas, there are a few things to be aware of as a retired member of the Massachusetts State Employees' Retirement System.

The main issue to be aware of is that benefit payments may only be direct deposited into a U.S. bank account. Many banks have options for transferring funds to one another, but it will depend upon the institutions you chose. Make sure that you will be able to access your money in your U.S. bank account from where ever you choose to live.

Another important issue is keeping your contact information up-to-date with the State Retirement Board. Anytime your permanent address changes, you must submit the change in writing to the MSRB. This is very important, especially during the biennial Benefit Verification Process as it will avoid any interruption of benefit disbursements due to untimely responses. Finally, health insurance and social security benefits will be affected by a move abroad. If you have any questions regarding health insurance or social security benefits, please visit the links below:

GIC Contact Information

Social Security Overseas Information

Did you receive this Retiree eNews Bulletin as a forwarded e-mail from a friend? If you are a MSERS retiree and would like to receive your own monthly Retiree eNews Bulletin, send your e-mail address to us at MSRBCommunications@tre.state.ma.us

Note: Please include your full name and either your MSRB I.D. or the last four digits of your Social Security Number, and request that we add it to our distribution list.

Have you, or are you, planning to move? If so, be sure to notify the Board of your address change! Retirees who already have summer and winter addresses on file with the Board can call us to request the address update. Otherwise, you'll need to notify the Board in writing. You can download our Change of Address form here!