Waste Watchers: Double Dippers take state jobs

Double dippers. Government retirees back to work. Collecting a paycheck and a pension. Some even get special "211" waivers so they can make top dollar. It's a practice that one of the public employee unions said deprives regular employees of chance to move up.

In state government alone, more than 2300 retirees are back on the job, pulling down an annual payroll of $51.5-million-dollars.

No one is stealing. Double dipping is completely legal.

  

Waste Watchers: Double Dippers take state jobs 

ALBANY - We first told you about double dippers back in December: a group of state lawmakers who retire at the end of the year.... and jump back on the payroll, come January 1.

"Clearly it's an issue that would rub salt in the wounds of New York State taxpayers," said Blair Horner in December, formerly the legislative director for NYPIRG.

Double dippers. Government retirees back to work. Collecting a paycheck and a pension. Some even get special "211" waivers so they can make top dollar. It's a practice that one of the public employee unions said deprives regular employees of chance to move up.

"When the economy isn't doing well, we should be giving every job to people either to advance in their careers or to be hiring new people to come in and be working," said CSEA Communications Director Stephen Madarasz.

But instead, the Waste Watchers learned that in state government alone, more than 2300 retirees are back on the job, pulling down an annual payroll of $51.5-million-dollars.

"I think it's really bleeding the state dry right now, I really do," said Ruth Bennett of Fly Creek, NY.

We showed Bennett our findings when she was looking for work at a job fair, after losing her job as an assistant dean at a community college.  Bennett wondered why New York State would rather hire a retiree than people like her.

"I think they're overlooking the fact that a lot of skills are transferable. I have some very transferable skills. There are a lot of us out there who learn very quickly," she said.

We quickly learned that it's a subject state agencies don't want to talk about. Five agencies turned down our requests to explain on camera why they hire retirees, although one retiree who did not come back to work said, there's nothing wrong with it.

"I don't think it's double dipping because people have worked for the pension for all those years," said Sam Bogen, who worked for the state for 35 years. "Now they're working for their pay, so I don't think it's any problem, they're not stealing from the taxpayer."

No one is stealing. Double dipping is completely legal. That's why we were surprised that Bruce Feig wouldn't talk to us. As Executive Deputy Commissioner for the Office of Mental Health, he's one of the state's highest paid retirees, making over $165,000-a-year plus a $101,000 annual pension. Out of 36 applicants, he got the job.

But Feig turned us down two requests for an interview. We also waited outside his office, hoping to talk to Bruce Feig. But a security officer showed up and ordered us off the property.

So, we went to his home. Feig wasn't there, but the woman who answered the door says he's got a lot to offer.

Woman: "He's worked hard for a very long period of time."
Reporter: "I know he's got a wealth of experience, and that's what we want to ask him about."
Woman: "An excellent service record."

Why won't he tell us about it? And why aren't state agencies willing to explain on camera why they hire so many retirees? Madarasz said, it's a system that needs a closer look.

"It certainly creates a perception with the public that something isn't quite right," he said.

"It's time to open it up for people who are below retirement age and you know, hire us!!" said Bennett.

After we started asking questions, Feig's employer, the Office of Mental Health, sent us this statement:

"Mr. Feig’s 211 waiver was approved during the previous administration, it expires at the end of May and it will not be renewed."

 

That means Feig won't be able to collect both a paycheck and his pension while he's on the job.

Several state agencies also sent us statements, including this one from the State Attorney General's Office, which hires the most retirees:

"In just three months, this office has already instituted a 10 percent across-the-board budget cut, created a new Taxpayer Protection Unit to crack down on waste, cut the number of 211 waivers by nearly 10 percent to comprise just a minority of its investigators, and already recovered tens of millions for taxpayers through its Medicaid Fraud unit. We are committed to doing more with less, and will continue to advance new reforms and efficiencies to keep leading by example in protecting taxpayer dollars."

 

The New York State Insurance Department issued this statement:

"The Insurance Department does not use 211 waivers if we don't have to and we have substantially reduced the number of employees with 211 waivers from 30 in 2008 to 20 now. That said, these are law enforcement positions and retired police officers with significant investigative skills, knowledge of their communities, and connections to law enforcement agencies often make the best candidates." 

Statement from Inspector General Ellen Biben:

“Our investigators include former police officers, police detectives, and sheriff’s department officers whose law enforcement skills and experience make them uniquely qualified to carry out the investigative work of the Inspector General’s Office.”

The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services issued this statement:

"Many positions here require a significant law enforcement/ investigative background. Often, the best available candidates - and the only applicants who meet the criteria -- are those who have retired from law enforcement positions elsewhere. At the same time, any notion that taxpayers ultimately pay more when DCJS hires someone who retired from another public service position is completely inaccurate, and unfair."