Boston firefighter’s disability pension would match his regular pay

The Boston retirement board would set Bracken’s annual disability pension at the stated amount. This applies to Leo J. Bracken, a Boston firefighter who became totally and permanently unable to serve as a firefighter because of injuries sustained while on duty on October 17, 2019. The pension would be funded and administered under chapter 32. Amounts paid under the act would be tax-free only to the extent allowed by state and federal law. The pension amount would apply upon passage of the petition and continue until Bracken’s death or mandatory retirement age, whichever comes first.

Bracken could earn income up to half the amount of his retirement allowance without a refund penalty. This applies to Leo J. Bracken. The bill measures the limit by adding Bracken’s annual earnings to his retirement allowance. The earnings limit would apply annually.

Boston would pay Bracken’s qualifying hospital, medical, and related expenses. This covers Bracken’s expenses incurred after his retirement. The expenses must result from injuries Bracken sustained while on duty on October 17, 2019, and payment would follow sections 100 and 100B of chapter 41. The expense provision covers costs incurred after the date of Bracken’s retirement.

The Boston retirement board would pay Bracken his credited savings and, if the stated conditions are met, pay a survivor annuity to his spouse. The savings payment applies to Bracken. The survivor annuity applies only to the spouse he was married to upon retirement, if all stated conditions are met. The survivor annuity applies only if Bracken was married when he retired, remained married to that same spouse when he died, and that spouse survived him. The spouse would receive 75 percent of the pension that otherwise would have been payable to Bracken until the spouse’s death. The benefits are subject to section 103 of chapter 32. The savings payment would be due as of the act’s effective date. The survivor annuity would begin upon Bracken’s death if the stated conditions are met.