Comptroller Scanlon Proposes Reforms To State Disability Pension System
(HARTFORD, CT) – Comptroller Sean Scanlon today announced the Office of the State Comptroller’s proposed reforms to strengthen the efficacy of the state employee disability pension system.
“The state employee disability pension system serves a crucial purpose: ensuring that former state employees, including many who became disabled during their public service, receive appropriate compensation and access to healthcare they deserve,” said Comptroller Scanlon. “Today, we are formally announcing a package of reforms to ensure this system continues to operate efficiently for those that truly need it while giving our office the tools we need to better detect, investigate, and eliminate potential abuse within the system.”
Comptroller Scanlon’s reform plan includes:
- Improving the survey that disability pension recipients are required to complete each year to verify outside income
- Imposing penalties on recipients who fail to respond to the annual survey
- Ensuring pension dollars go to disability retirees who need them most
- Revising or replacing the “suitable and comparable job” standard that is out-of-line with standards used by other retirement, disability insurance, and workers’ compensation systems
- Authorizing the Office of the State Comptroller to initiate investigations of disability retirees, including randomized audits
Over the years, the Office of the State Comptroller, which oversees the system, has continuously advocated for reforms similar to the above. Due to complex case law, labor negotiations, and statute, these reforms have often been difficult to come to a consensus on. However, as with past reforms such as to the Connecticut Municipal Employee Retirement System (CMERS), Comptroller Scanlon is committed to convening and working with relevant stakeholders from labor, management, the Retirement Commission, and the legislature to bring these proposals to fruition.
