Frequently Asked Questions
1. If I collect a municipal pension will I be able to collect me social security?
2. I am a town of Bourne employee who contributes to the Barnstable County Retirement Association. What happens to my benefits when I retire?
3. I am a Town of Bourne employee who contributes to the Mass Teacher’s Retirement System. What happens to my benefits when I retire?
4. If I am planning on retiring, should I contact the Treasurer’s office?
5. Can I take a loan from my teacher or county retirement plan?
6. I/my Spouse is turning 65 and I plan on continuing my employment with the Town of Bourne, do I/my spouse have to enroll in Medicare part A and part B?
7. Why does my paycheck net amount change during the year?
8. Does the Treasurer’s Office keep copies of old paychecks stubs?
9. How can I check my Town of Bourne email from any computer so I can obtain copies of my paycheck stubs?
10. When can I enroll into or change my health plan?
11. My son/daughter graduated from college, how long does the health plan cover him/her?
12. Can I take a loan from my 403(b) tax sheltered annuity or my 457(b) deferred compensation plan?
13. What is a “buyback” of creditable service?
14. What is a “trust to trust” transfer?
15. If I worked in the past for a municipality as a seasonal or part-time employee in which OBRA deductions were taken how do I get a refund of that money?
16. I recently got married/divorced and want to change my name. How do I get me information updated?
1. If I collect a municipal pension will I be able to collect me social security?
If you are social security eligible and you collect a Massachusetts municipal pension, you will have an “offset” on your social security payment. This means that your social security will be reduced by a calculated amount. This is due to the fact that Massachusetts municipal employees do not contribute to social security. This “offset” amount is different for everyone. The Social Security Administration determines the offset amount at your retirement. Additional info is available in this document and also at the Social Security web site.
2. I am a town of Bourne employee who contributes to the Barnstable County Retirement Association. What happens to my benefits when I retire?
As a Barnstable County retiree, you still contribute at the employee rate of 25%. If you are under 65, you are enrolled in the B/C B/S Blue Care Elect PPO (the same plan as active employees). If you are over 65, you are required to enroll in Medicare part A and part B and the town enrolls you into Medex II (the supplement to Medicare) and Blue RX (the Medicare part D plan). Your dental plan stays the same and Boston Mutual basic life insurance plan stay the same. All other benefits convert to a direct pay or end, depending on the benefit.
3. I am a Town of Bourne employee who contributes to the Mass Teacher’s Retirement System. What happens to my benefits when I retire?
As an MTRS retiree, you benefits are taken over by GIC. Please visit the GIC web site for more information.
4. If I am planning on retiring, should I contact the Treasurer’s office?
Yes. Approximately 2 to 3 months prior to your planned retirement date, you should contact this office to see what we need to make the transition as smooth as possible from an active status to retiree. In the case of County retirees, the Town of Bourne still handles your health coverage and we need lead time to cover the gap from your last paycheck to your first pension check. In the case of Teacher retirees, we are required to cover your health coverage until the GIC plans over.
5. Can I take a loan from my teacher or county retirement plan?
No. There are no provisions to take loans from your retirement plans.
6. I/my Spouse is turning 65 and I plan on continuing my employment with the Town of Bourne, do I/my spouse have to enroll in Medicare part A and part B?
No. If you remain actively employed by the Town of Bourne and you carry the health coverage you/your spouse are allowed to waive Medicare part B until your retirement without a penalty. You must go to Social Security to formally waive Medicare part B
7. Why does my paycheck net amount change during the year?
Can be any of the following:
- You requested a deduction change
- The tax tables changed
- Your year to date retirement deduction has reached $2,000.00 and is now State taxable
- Your health premium changed
8. Does the Treasurer’s Office keep copies of old paychecks stubs?
No. This office does not keep copies of paychecks. If you are applying for a mortgage or refinancing a loan, it is your responsibility to save your stubs.
9. How can I check my Town of Bourne email from any computer so I can obtain copies of my paycheck stubs?
Click HERE to view instructions on checking your Town of Bourne email from any computer.
10. When can I enroll into or change my health plan?
Open enrollment is July 1st of every year. Otherwise, you must have a “qualifying event” to make a change. These include marriage, birth of a child, death, loss of job, loss of coverage, divorce etc.
11. My son/daughter graduated from college, how long does the health plan cover him/her?
Under the affordable care act a child can be covered under the medical plan as a dependent until age 26. However, in the case of the dental plan, they are covered until November 1st of the year they graduated. The dental plan requires annual student certification.
12. Can I take a loan from my 403(b) tax sheltered annuity or my 457(b) deferred compensation plan?
Both the 403(b) and the 457(b) plans have loan provisions; however, a plan provider may have provisions that either limit or not allow loans.
13. What is a “buyback” of creditable service?
If you worked in a municipal position that did not qualify to be a member of either retirement system and then are hired to a position that does contribute to the retirement system, you can “buyback” that time which allows you to get credit for service. Examples of service that are bought back are substitute teachers, lifeguards, seasonal employees, temporary part-time employees, etc.
14. What is a “trust to trust” transfer?
A “trust to trust” transfer allows you to use funds from 403(b), 457(b), 401(k), IRA, etc. plans to purchase creditable service time when doing buybacks for your municipal pension.
15. If I worked in the past for a municipality as a seasonal or part-time employee in which OBRA deductions were taken how do I get a refund of that money?
If you have terminated employment with a municipality in which OBRA money was deducted, you must contact that entity for their procedures to withdraw funds. If the service was for the Town of Bourne and you are no longer actively employed, you can call Mass Mutual at 1-800-678-8645. They will send you a withdrawal form that you need to complete and have signed off by the Treasurer’s office or you can download withdrawal form located here.
16. I recently got married/divorced and want to change my name. How do I get me information updated?
By federal law, name changes require that you go to the social security office and change your name there. Once you get a new social security card, we will require a photocopy of your new card which will allow the name change. That is a good time to think about updating your beneficiary information and any other information that may have changed as a result of your name change.