Retired Seattle Police Officers Association
RSPOA
From the Pension Office

S.P.O.G. PENSION ESCALATOR INCREASE DUE, AGAIN

Those Seattle Police Officers’ Guild retirees and lawful beneficiaries SO ENTITLED are going to receive another escalator pension increase from the City of Seattle Police Pension Fund on January 7, 2009. This next increase amounts to 5.50%.

Your Seattle Police Pension Office intends to pay this increase with a little retro pay on February 27, 2009. Then, those so entitled will be current with the Seattle Police Pension System and the new Guild contract. Remember, not all pensioners are so entitled. Those with escalator pension benefits only and those whose City of Seattle Police Pension Fund escalator entitlement exceeds their State of Washington LEOFF I entitlement will receive payment.
As a rule of thumb, those retired/beneficiaries who received retro benefits recently will likely receive an increase on January 7, 2009, BUT NOT ALL.
Questions? Call Mike Germann @ (206) 386-1289.

S.P.M.A. and CITY OF SEATTLE REACH T.A.
The Seattle Police Management Association, representing police lieutenants, captains and certain sworn directors, has reached a tentative agreement with the City of Seattle on a new labor contract. This new contract, if ratified by the members, will cover the years of 2009, 2010 and 2011.
The membership has been briefed on the new agreement and is in the process of voting by mail-out ballot.
No specifics are available until and unless the new contract is ratified by the active members of the bargaining unit. Good news is expected, and in next month’s GUARDIAN, we’ll let you know.
About 100 retired sworn Seattle Police management personnel and lawful beneficiaries could receive increased escalator pension benefits if this new agreement is ratified.  More on this later.

REIMBURSEMENTS, BILLS AND CLAIMS
LAST CALL for any outstanding 2008 reimbursements, bills and claims due from the Seattle Police Pension Fund. Don’t wait; send what you may have to the Seattle Police Pension Office NOW. Auditors expect the Police Pension Fund to close its books at year end or thereabouts. Remember, your Seattle Police Pension Office needs all of the paper work in order to process your payment.
Call Tom Grabicki at (206) 386-1287 if you have medical benefit or payment questions.

ANNUAL REPORTS
Your annual report form(s) were mailed a little early this year. This was done to give you as much time as possible to respond.
If you don’t have your report form(s) in-hand by the end of 2008, call Elaine at (206)386-1286 in the Police Pension Office for replacement forms.
YES, your signature(s) on the annual report forms must be notarized.

SEATTLE POLICE PENSION BOARD INCREASES DENTAL REIMBURSEMENT
Your Seattle Police Pension Board held its final business meeting for 2008 on December 16.

One item on the agenda of interest to both escalator and LEOFF I members was an increase in dental reimbursement benefits.
The Executive Secretary recommended and the Police Pension Board unanimously approved the following:
•the calendar year 2009 out-of-pocket dental reimbursement benefit is increased to a maximum of $1,500 from the 2008 maximum reimbursement limit of $1,000.

Remember, you pay for your own dental work and the Police Pension Fund reimburses you, upon receiving your documentation. Police Pension does not pay your dentist directly or any premiums directly.

Call Tom at (206) 386-1287 if you have questions about this benefit.

Mike Germann, Pension Board Secretary