(WHTM) — State workers and school district employees got huge increases to their pensions thanks to Act 9 of 2001, but there was no bump for those who retired before then.

Among them is Jeannie Weaver, who made just $98 every two weeks when she started working in 1971. She spent 35 years caring for people with intellectual disabilities.

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Many of her co-workers retired before 2001, and their pensions, which average $20,000 a year, have been frozen for a quarter century.

“They feel like they’ve been abandoned,” Weaver said. “They’ve been kicked to the curb after all the years they gave the Commonwealth.”

Taxpayers will contribute $2.5 billion to the state employee retirement system, and another $3.2 billion to retired school workers. There’s no help coming for the estimated 40,000 retirees from before Act 9.

Though there are bills trying to address their concerns. Rep. Steven Malagari’s (D-Montgomery) bill would hike pensions between 15% and 25%. It passed the House with bipartisan support.

“Somebody who has $20,000 in an annual pension, in reality, it’s more like $10,000 of what they actually have buying power with,” Malagari said.

Sen. Frank Farry (R-Bucks) introduced similar legislation in the Senate that would pay for pension increases with interest from the rainy day fund. He said it’s only fair to give an overdue correction to the retirees.

“Your voices have been heard,” Farry said. “They’ve been heard over the last many years, very hopeful that 2026 is the year that we can get this done for you.”

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In a statement, Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman said, “I have genuine empathy for those who retired before 2001. Obviously, we must be careful about the fragile nature of our pension funds. The question raised to advocates continues to be how we pay for it without increasing the burden on school property taxpayers across this Commonwealth.”

The budget is being crafted right now in Harrisburg.

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