Retired Pennsylvania teacher celebrates first pension increase in decades

DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. — For nearly five decades, Bill Minsker was a dedicated teacher.

“My life is education. My life is my students,” Minsker said.

He retried after 49 years teaching both in Pennsylvania and overseas, including 25 years at Lower Dauphin School District from 1968 to 1992.

But as the cost of living increased, Minsker’s pension remained the same for decades.

Now, after years of advocacy, Minsker and thousands of other retired public employees are finally set to receive some financial relief.

The new 2026-27 Pennsylvania state budget includes cost-of-living adjustments for eligible retirees in the Public School Employees’ Retirement System and State Employees’ Retirement System who retired before July 2, 2001.

Those retirees will receive increases ranging from 15% to 24.5%, depending on when they retired. For someone that retired in 2001, they will receive 15% increase, while 1980 and prior will receive 24.5% increase. A full breakdown can be found here.

The budget also includes post-retirement pension adjustments for retired municipal police officers and firefighters.

For years, Minsker worked alongside retiree advocacy groups, including the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees, to push lawmakers for a cost-of-living adjustment.

State Sen. Patty Kim said hearing directly from retirees helped lawmakers understand the importance of making a change.

“After hearing some of their stories – I’m embarrassed, because this should have happened a long time ago,” Kim said. “Their advocacy worked. We listened, and we finally got this.”

State Rep. Ed Neilson called the increase a recognition of the people who spent their careers serving Pennsylvania communities.

“These retirees spent decades serving our communities, educating our children, protecting our neighborhoods, responding to emergencies, and keeping state government running,” Neilson said. “Meanwhile, the cost of groceries, utilities, housing and prescription medications has continued to climb. This adjustment recognizes both their service and today’s economic reality.”

Eligible retirees are expected to begin seeing the pension increases with payments issued after July 1, 2026. If the adjustment is late, backpay will be issued.

The state says it will provide communication directly to impacted members prior to the increase being provided with the monthly benefit payment and date the payment will be included.