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Factoids

Payments for Medicare

Both public and private sector employees in Massachusetts have 1.45% of their pay deducted for the Medicare portion of Social Security.

$13,500 on Social Security

The average annual benefit to people collecting disability through Social Security was about $13,500 in 2008.

Average pensions

The average state retiree’s annual pension was $23,014 in January 2008.

10 of 39 in Quincy

In Quincy, from June 2003 through June 2008, the rate for police was 26 percent – 10 out of 39 officers retired on accidental disability.

The number of private employers who match their employees’ contributions to 401(k) plans is shrinking. Those that still do typically contribute 50 cents for each dollar contributed up to the first 6 percent of an employee’s pay.

10-year guarantee

Massachusetts has a defined benefit retirement program for its municipal, county and state workers. Public employees who work 10 years or more are guaranteed a retirement allowance consisting of a pension and at least a portion of what they paid into the system over the years plus interest, the annuity. They also get lifetime health benefits.

S. Shore numbers

The average municipal retiree on the South Shore’s annual pension in 2008 was between $19,000 and $21,500. The average accidental disability retiree on the South Shore’s annual pension in 2009 was about $31,500.

State Police: 27%

From June 2003 through June 2008, the rate of accidental disability retirements among State Police was 27 percent, or 90 out of 335 retirements.

Heart disease a top killer

Heart disease caused 45 percent of the deaths that occurred among U.S. firefighters while they are on duty between 1994 and 2004, according to a study from Harvard University. Heart disease caused 22 percent of the on-duty deaths among U.S. police officers during that same period.

6.9 percent

Statewide in 2008, 12,933 of the 186,700 retired public employees, including city, town and state workers and teachers, received accidental disability benefits. That’s 6.9 percent.