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March 28, 2024
Aug. 06, 2009
Posted On: Sep 03, 2009
-----Original Message-----
From: Lea, Mary [
mailto:Mary.Lea@ssa.gov]
Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2009 2:38 PM
To: PICHETTE, LUCAS
Subject: Idaho Firefighters


Lucas,

We held our conference call with Idaho's State Social Security Administrator's (SSSA) staff and our Seattle Regional office yesterday.

As you know, the State of Idaho has enabling legislation which provides Social Security coverage for all firefighters.  This legislation was created based on the request by firefighter representatives to join the Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho and participate in Social Security to replace the financially troubled Firefighter's Retirement Fund.

Absent a 218 Modification, the State has indicated their intention to correct the situation by using the legal options available to them, also known as an "error modification."  This would include a referendum
(vote) of the affected employees to ratify the State's decision and would apply to all tax years involved.  In addition, the State has the choice to conduct this vote on a State-wide basis.  Only firefighters who are members of PERSI and not covered by a 218 modification would be eligible to vote in the referendum.  If the referendum does not pass, then Social Security coverage would cease.  We (SSA) pointed out during the call that if Social Security coverage were to end, eligibility for Social Security disability benefits would no longer exist for most firefighters after 5 years of non-coverage.  For currently retired
firefighters, benefits may be reduced.      

You will receive additional information from the SSSA's staff in the near future.  In the meantime, if you have further questions, please contact Rita Foltman at rfoltman@sco.idaho.gov.

I hope this helps,
Mary

 
 
CDA Fire Fighters
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