Retirees to start getting adjustments

CONCORD – State retirees could receive one or up to three different adjustments in their pension after New Hampshire Retirement System began sending out allowance checks Tuesday.

The three allowances were contained in the retirement reform bill (HB 1645) Gov. John Lynch signed in June.

Legislative leaders had hoped checks would start going out July 1, but the complexity of the benefits took several months to calibrate for all 20,000 retirees, state officials said Tuesday.

Those who make less than a $30,000 annual pension will get a single, cost-of-living adjustment of 1.5 percent.

Legislative leaders also crafted additional, one-time bonuses of $1,000 and $500 to the lowest-paid pensioners.