Lynch discusses Tier 3 inequity with the Chief Leader

PBA president Patrick J. Lynch said:

“A New York City police officer hired since 2009 will not be able to live on the significantly reduced disability pay should he or she be permanently disabled in the line of duty.   The worst case scenario is an officer injured during the first year on the job who would only receive a pension benefit from the city of $21,000 taxable dollars a year for the rest of his or her life.  That $21,000 would be reduced by 50% of any social security benefit the officer would get. 

This grossly inadequate disability benefit was an inadvertent byproduct of Gov. Paterson’s decision not to renew the Tier 2 pension as his predecessors had done since the 1970s.  The former Governor has since stated publically that this dramatic reduction in disability support must be corrected.  

It is immoral to ask police officers to risk their lives to protect the city and then fail to provide adequate support if they are permanently injured while doing so.  The Mayor and the City Council must help us correct this economic injustice by granting us a home rule message supporting our legislation to restore pre-2009 disability benefits for police officers hired since then.”