To which retirement system do I belong?

“To which retirement system do I belong?” – this common question stems from the fact that Massachusetts has 104 public retirement systems, but one unifying state retirement law. The fact that health insurance benefits are provided by another government entity only adds to the confusion. It’s important for retirees to know which retirement system you are a member of, especially when it comes to benefits like the COLA, which is often set and approved by the retirement board – the exception being the COLA paid to members of the State and Teachers’ Retirement Systems, which is set by the legislature.