From time to time, we like to learn more about our readers and give you an opportunity to tell us what you’re interested in reading from PERA on the Issues. (You can see how readers responded to a survey we conducted in 2016 and the Health Care section we launched as a result.)
With the 2017 Colorado legislative session kicking off, this year we are interested in learning more about who you – our readers – are. Are you an active member of PERA, a retiree, or just someone interested in learning more about retirement issues? Are you employed full- or part-time? Do you volunteer regularly in your community? Do you have an interesting story about your own retirement experience, or that of others, that you would like to share?
You can complete our 2017 survey here. We’ll review the results and may be in touch to see if we can learn more about your own perspective on the issues.
What is happening about NOT RECEIVING SOCIAL SECURITY???? I started working at age 16 and paid into it for years… worked full-time during college, worked summers and nights while teaching… and NO SOCIAL SECURITY benefits now!!! I am 67 years old. My husband died 3 years ago I DO NOT RECEIVE HIS SOCIAL SECURITY EITHER. This is because I taught school!!!! Who decided upon this law??? It’s not in other states. People thinking I’m joking when I tell them this!
I am a substitute teacher and I pay into PERA but it does not increase my PERA benefit. I paid into Social Security while working other jobs after retiring from teaching but don’t get that either.
AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR MY MEDICARE AS WELL BECAUSE I DON’T GET MY SOCIAL SECURITY…. IS ANY OF THIS FOR REAL???
After volunteering for several years at Pea Ridge National Military Park near our home in Rogers, Arkansas, my supervisor encouraged me to consider other opportunities in the NPS. Since our retirement does not allow us to ‘sail the world’ I had to become more creative. We do not possess an RV, but I discovered there are many resources which provide housing and sometimes meals. So, we discovered we could live (volunteer) free in areas where we could not afford to stay. The resources are unlimited, all applications are online.We have been in Mexico, Hawaii, Thailand, 30 miles south of DC in a 6,000 acre forest, a very remote location in the Blue Ridge Mountains of N.C., a conference center near Asheville N.C. , RMNP living in an historic log cabin at 9,000 feet, and absolutely the best is the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park. A summer in the mountains!! We work half a week and are off half a week, 3 meals a day whether you are working or not. A private room and bath. So, get up from that sofa and get out of your comfort zone and VOLUNTEER! You’ll never regret it.