FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 29, 2016
Revised Pension Estimate for Rep. Mark Cohen
Rock the Capital learned last night that the formula used to project Mr. Cohen’s pension used a 1.25% multiplier rather than a 1.5% multiplier.
Rep. Mark Cohen (D-Philadelphia) will qualify for a pension benefit of 3% (2% X 1.5) of Final Average Pay times Years of Service given as a Class D-4 SERS member. The estimated projected annual annuity for Rep. Mark Cohen based on the data below:
41.975 x 3.0% x $95,203.21 = $119,884
Mr. Cohen’s current salary is $85,356 per year which allows Mr. Cohen to increase his compensation in retirement.
The SERS calculation for legislators is based on Act 9 (2001) using 2% x 1.5 multiplier x final average salary x years of credited service. This calculation simplifies it to 3.0% x final average salary x years of accredited service.
This estimate does not factor in the December 1, 2016 COLA, assumes that Mr. Cohen will not take a lump sum distribution, and in no way represents the final calculations that SERS will prepare after Mr. Cohen’s retirement.