MURA Members and Friends –

The Hamilton Council on Aging has released its April 27 version of:

‘Staying Connected! Information & Resources for Older Adults to Stay Connected, Safe & Healthy at a Distance’

This is a useful summary of resources for older adults in Hamilton. Much of the information is also relevant to those living in other communities.

The resources you'll find there cover these topics:

• sources of online news & information

• St. Matthew’s House Seniors First Response Team

• Healthcare

• Housing insecurity

• Transportation

• Shopping

• Meals on Wheels

• Education & support

• Seniors’ abuse & neglect

• Financial

• Maintaining social connections

• Other useful resources for older adults in Hamilton during COVID-19

Spring 2020 -- in HTML / in PDF

MURA Members:

This message is from CURAC, the College and University Retiree Associations of Canada. MURA is a member of CURAC. Thus children and grandchildren of MURA members qualify for this scholarship program.
 -  Your MURA Council

To CURAC/ARUCC Member Associations:
 
Johnson Insurance, a company that partners with CURAC to provide travel insurance to our members, is offering scholarships to students with a parent/guardian or grandparent who is  a CURAC member.
 
Johnson will award 50 scholarships, valued at $1000 each, to eligible students completing high school in 2020 and starting post-secondary education in the fall of 2020.  Please see the attached poster and visit https://www.johnson.ca/scholarship for more information. Under the eligibility criteria, CURAC qualifies as a Johnson recognized group.
 
Please pass this message on to your members. It would be great to see a CURAC member’s grandchild win one of these scholarships.
 
Bev Stefureak
Chair, Benefits Committee
College and University Retiree Associations of Canada /Associations de retraités des universités et collèges du Canada (CURAC/ARUCC)

Greetings Retirees, 

MURA Council has received a reassuring response from the University to the question “Could there be a disruption or decrease to McMaster retiree defined pension benefit payments as a result of the dramatic impact of COVID-19 on the economy?” The main take away from the response is as follows:

“Benefits payable from the [Defined Benefit] pension plans are not impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on financial markets. The plan assets are held in trust, separate from the University’s general revenues. The plans are, and will continue to be, funded in accordance with applicable legislation. The University’s pensioner payroll, delivered by CIBC Mellon Trust Company, remains fully functional and the University does not anticipate payment delays at this time.”

The full response from the University, including contact information, is below.
 
Take good care.
       - your MURA Council
 
Full University response:

In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on financial markets, it is understandable that those in receipt of a pension benefit may have questions about what effect the present situation will have on their pension. The University continues to closely monitor the current economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and any impact that this will have on the University and its pension plans.

McMaster has three defined benefit (DB) pension arrangements:

Under a DB pension plan, pension benefits are based on a member’s years of service in the pension plan and pensionable earnings, as defined within the applicable pension plan text.

Benefits payable from the DB pension plans are not impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on financial markets. The plan assets are held in trust, separate from the University’s general revenues.  The plans are, and will continue to be, funded in accordance with applicable legislation. The University’s pensioner payroll, delivered by CIBC Mellon Trust Company, remains fully functional and the University does not anticipate payment delays at this time.

Questions about your pension benefit can be directed to hr.mcmaster@mcmaster.ca.

On March 22, your MURA Council passed a motion that the MURA 2020 annual general meeting, originally scheduled to be held on May 28, 2020, will be postponed until further notice, due to limitations imposed by Covid-19. It will be re-scheduled as soon as is feasible. As stipulated by Article 5.06 of the MURA constitution, the current Council and Executive will remain in office until an AGM can be held.

Greetings fellow McMaster Retirees,
We are pleased to inform you that the Board of Governors has approved the following increases to pensions effective January 2020:

For retirees of the Salaried Pension Plan, there will be a regular pension increase as outlined below:

• 2.06% for employees who were hired on or after May 1, 2010 and who retired from the University as a Unifor Local 5555 Unit 1 Member
• 2.12% for all other retirees
  

Members must have been receiving a pension on June 30, 2018 to receive the full pension increase. Those who retired between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019 will receive a pro-rated increase. There will be no supplementary increase this year. Details can be found at: https://hr.mcmaster.ca/pensioner-increase-calculation-salaried-pension-plans/.

For retirees of the Hourly Pension Plan, there will be a regular pension increase of 0.33% for retirees who were receiving a pension on June 30, 2018. Those who retired between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019 will receive a pro-rated increase. Details can be found at: https://hr.mcmaster.ca/pensioner-increase-hourly-pension-plan/.

-- your MURA Council