I frequently see stories of outrage over retirees "double dipping" -

[hedgehog]

Someone retires with a military pension, goes to work for another government agency and earns a second pension. Some even manage to retire a second time and earn a third pension.

Somehow, the outrage seems confined to those who earn a pension from another government. I never hear of people who earn a second pension in the private sector accused of double dipping.

A related complaint is directed at the municipal employee who works the over time like crazy a few years before retirement and ends up earning a huge pension as a result. No one ever seems to mention that many union workers in the private sector follow the same strategy.

My only concern with pension spiking is whether the fire fighter or police officer can be useful when pulling 20 hours overtime each week. I'd like to see a limit on hours worked, just as we limit the hours for airplane pilots and truck drivers.

Here's my real question though. Where is all the outrage against politicians of every party who enter politics from the upper middle class and retire as multi-millionaires? Where is the outrage against politicians who retire to nebulous jobs that "earn" them millions to schmooze, er, lobby government officials and agencies?

[blueamy66]

1. These are some smart people.

Wish I was that smart.

[rampart]

2. pensions are based on base pay

overtime is not considered.

also, for most civil servants social security is deducted from the civil service pension.

[nessa]

3. Where do you see these complaints? ...

My dad had a 20 military career and then a 20 year teaching career. He earned a pension for each, I've never heard anyone complain about it.

[hedgehog]

9. I've seen newspaper articles over the years. It seems to be a topic

good for headlines on a slow news day. A variation is the suggestion that Social Security be means tested.

[xchrom]

4. It would be interesting to see studies on over-time hours

Worked by police since the recession.

[hedgehog]

10. Given the many hiring freezes out there, I wouldn't want to bet on

the results in either direction.

[sinkingfeeling]

5. I agree. I'm doing my best to become a 'double-dipper'. I started receiving one pension from a

private-sector corporation at age 54 and will have a second pension (much-less than first) in another 2 years. And then I'll begin my social security.

[hedgehog]

8. I think you'd find that because you are working in the private sector,

you wouldn't be considered to be a double dipper. It seems to apply only to those who earn multiple government pensions.

[Historic NY]

6. The problem lies with those getting a pension, leaving one job...

for another doing the same. Collecting a pension while doing the same job in the same state. Some boldly doing it while collecting a disability pension.....thats what smacks people.

example; a NY city cop goes out on a disability pension, full benefits, he then collecting said pension gets hired for a police cop in a smaller community, collecting a salary and his pension at the same time. In my county things are catching up with these guys. Its illegal because most are hired outside of civil service list. One local chief was caught he was let go and is now boldly collecting unemployment...imagine and its costing the municipality extra money due to it. NY city pension and the state are going after these people now. A waver was required showing that this person was the only one qualified in the entire state to do the job. Most people just blew it off and never got them as required every two years. The taxpayer loses by paying these guys twice and other qualified people are overlooked in departments for these jobs. It comes down to playing by the rules and most don't.

[hedgehog]

7. I think the key points in your post are "illegal" and "playing by the rules"

I agree, that someone who arranges a sweetheart deal with his buddy or who goes out on disability and simultaneously accepts the same job in another municipality is doing wrong. What I'm referring to is people who studied the rules and then worked their asses off to take advantage of the rules. If the rules say that your pension is based on your total earnings for the last three years you work, and you work beaucoup overtime, then you've earned a large pension. As I said, it's up to whoever agrees to the contract to limit overtime to ensure the job is done properly. (i.e, no working 80 or 90 hours a week for months at a time.) I should note, I've also seen it work the other way where someone got sick and found that since he could no longer put in the overtime, his pension was actually shrinking.

I've seen stories complaining about military people retiring, then coming back to work for the Defense Department as a civilian to do similar work. If it's a buddy deal, there may be a problem. Otherwise, the person has earned the second pension. Certainly, there should be no questions about a veteran taking a military pension then earning another pension in a separate sector such as teaching.

[Gaedel]

11. Military in civil service

If you are hiring for a civil service job in the Department of Defense and the job has a close relationship to the military (instructor at a service school, rifle range managment, etc) who is more qualified, a guy who just retired from 20 years n the military or an administrator from another civil service department?

[hedgehog]

12. Stop trying to be rational on such an emotionally charged subject!

Someone, somewhere, might be making more money than ****ME****!

(:sarcasm: )