BILL NUMBER: S959A
SPONSOR: JACKSON
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the civil service law, in relation to establishing the
disability benefits maximization and assistance program to assist eligi-
ble state retirees in obtaining certain disability benefits
 
PURPOSE:
This legislation would require the Department of Civil Service to design
a program to identify state retirees eligible for but not receiving
social security disability insurance (SSDI) and Medicare coverage.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill would:
Require the Department of Civil Service to establish a Disability Bene-
fits Maximization and Assistance Program (the Program) to identify state
retirees eligible for but not receiving social security disability
insurance and Medicare coverage;
Define a state retiree as an individual retired from state service
eligible for benefits pursuant to article XI of the civil service law;
Establish the elements of the Program, including requirements to assist
qualified retirees to apply for Medicare and SSDI benefits and to moni-
tor the Program through reporting requirements and other means to ensure
contract performance and quality delivery of services;
Ensure that the program will not result in any adverse change in health
or other benefits to any individual; Require the Department of Civil
Service to report annually to the Legislature about the impact of the
program; and
Require the State to invest any net savings realized from the program
back into the NYS Health Insurance Program for the purpose of reducing
or eliminating certain costs to employees or retirees.
Section two would set the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Persons who are under age sixty-five and disabled are frequently eligi-
ble for, but not receiving, social security disability insurance (SSDI)
and Medicare. As a consequence, they forego the supplemental income to
which disabled individuals are entitled through SSDI. By requiring New
York State to assist state retirees in qualifying for SSDI and Medicare,
this legislation will increase the disposable incomes of disabled reti-
rees and ensure that they receive the federal monetary benefits to which
they are entitled. Participation in the Program by retirees will be
completely voluntary.
Moreover, identification of retirees under the age of 65 who would qual-
ify for Medicare as their primary insurer will generate significant
savings for the state's health insurance plan. Disabled retirees under
the age of 65, like post-65 retirees, will have the benefit of Medicare
coverage while maintaining the full benefit of the State's health insur-
ance plan as their secondary source of insurance. Retirees will experi-
ence 'no diminution in coverage.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024 - S.8871 - Referred to Civil Service and Pensions/A.9759 Referred
to Governmental Employees
 
STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
This legislation will generate an estimated $852,000 in savings for the
State Financial Plan in the first year of operation, growing to annual
savings of $42 million within 5 years of implementation.
This legislation also could generate savings for local governments if
the Commissioner elects to extend the program to local government reti-
rees, as authorized to do in the bill.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect April 1, 2025.