RE “TAX hike an insult to hardworking citizens” (Letters, Jan. 26): While Edward Haddad is certainly entitled to his opinion about tax and fee hikes, his opening paragraph reflected a common misunderstanding about Massachusetts pensions. These pension investments are made by a combination of worker and employer contributions in lieu of similar ones to Social Security. So, while Haddad is eligible to receive Social Security payments, his neighbors who work for the Commonwealth will receive a state pension. If they have also contributed to Social Security while working at another private-sector job, there is a formula by which their payments are reduced.
Let’s have a reasonable debate about services, investments, and payments, but let’s base our arguments on facts.
Comments
Joy works for the State. She forgot to mention that her pension is a percentage of her salary. She gets that no matter what.
And that her pension is not taxable while Social Security can be...