Middlesex County Retirement System

Category: News

Special Notice for Active Members Over Age 70 Who Elected to Stop Contributing

Prior to July 1, 2017, an active member had the choice to either continue making employee contributions and accruing creditable service or stopping contributions and ceasing the accrual of service upon reaching age 70. Recently, legislation was passed that allows members who elected to stop contributions prior to July 1, 2017 upon reaching age 70, to restart them if certain conditions are met. If you are over age 70 and elected to stop contributing to the System prior to July 1, 2017, please contact Lisa Maloney, Chief Administrative Officer to discuss your options.

2023 Fall Newsletter

The Fall 2023 Newsletter has been posted to the website.  We remember our friend and colleague, Francine Kollias, the System’s Social Security Specialist, and spotlight the System’s Veterans’ Services Officers. Highlights also include our new mailing address, post-retirement public employement restrictions and waivers, COLA information from the Social Security Administration, year end reminders for our members, and much more.  

Remembering Social Security Specialist Francine Kollias

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of our Social Security Specialist, Francine Kollias.  Following an exemplary 42-year career at the Social Security Administration, Francine continued her public service by joining the Middlesex County Retirement System in 2015 as the System’s Social Security Specialist.  Francine counseled numerous members on the impact between their MCRS pension and Social Security, and the inner workings of Medicare, while always watching out for the members’ best interests.  She was the most popular presenter at our member meetings, a regular contributor to the MCRS newsletter, and a guest speaker at many conferences, including the annual conference of the Massachusetts Association of Contributory Retirement Systems.

 

At the office, you knew Francine had arrived by the signature click of her heels.  Everyone knew they would be greeted with a smile and a kind word.  While short in stature, she stood tall among her peers, her family, and friends for how she treated other people– always with kindness and caring. Francine had a larger-than-life personality and an even bigger heart.  She made everyone feel better and the world smiled every day she was with us.  Thank you, Francine.  You will be missed.

Office Closed: July 3 – 4, 2023

Please be advised that the retirement office will be closed July 3rd and July 4th.  We will re-open on Wednesday, July 5th. Thank you.