The House of Representatives on Monday supported State Rep. Woody Burton’s bill providing a 13th check for public employee pensions.
The “13th check” is a flat payment based on an individual’s number of years vested in their retirement plan and is not equal to a monthly pension check. Burton said this additional check would help close potential cost-of-living gaps that pensioners face.
“As some costs continue to rise, pension benefits do not go as far as they used to,” Burton said. “Because Indiana has continued to pass fiscally sound policies, we have the means to provide additional support to public retirees who dedicated their careers to serving Hoosiers.”
Burton said teachers, public employees, state excise police, gaming agents, conservation officers and police officers who are a part of Indiana’s public pension program would receive a 13th check in 2019 and 2020, if this proposal becomes law.
According to Burton, the Indiana General Assembly passed the first 13th check in 1991 and has supported one nearly every year since.
House Bill 1139 can now be considered by the Senate. Visit iga.in.gov to learn more.
