Italian Heritage/Indigenous Peoples' Day
CSA joins all those honoring Italian Heritage and Indigenous People’s Day on Monday, as we celebrate our shared history and acknowledge the diversity that has shaped New York City’s communities.
IRMAA Medicare Part B Reimbursement
The Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) is an additional amount that you are required to pay for your monthly Medicare premiums if you have higher annual earnings. If you paid more than the standard monthly reimbursement rate for Medicare Part B, as an Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA), you may be eligible for additional reimbursement. If you submit the required documentation for IRMAA reimbursement, your reimbursement will be deposited directly into your bank account.
If your 2025 SSA-1099 form shows that you received the standard Medicare Part B premium deductions of $2,220.00 only, you did NOT pay IRMAA in 2025 and the following information does not apply to you. Please do NOT submit an IRMAA application as you are not eligible for reimbursement.
IRMAA 2025 Reimbursement
IRMAA 2025 annual reimbursements will be issued during the 3rd week of October 2026. (Or sooner). Medicare-eligible retirees and their Medicare-eligible dependents can submit an. If you did not pay more than the standard amount, then you are not eligible for IRMAA. If you are currently receiving your pension check through Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) or direct deposit, your reimbursement was deposited directly into your bank account. This is separate from your pension payment. If you don’t have EFT or direct deposit, you should have received a check in the mail.
Medicare Refund
The $90 Medicare refund is a one-time relief payment issued by the federal government to help Medicare beneficiaries offset monthly premium costs.
Who is eligible: More than 20 million standard Medicare Part B enrollees. It generally excludes beneficiaries whose premiums are paid by Medicaid and higher-income individuals who pay an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA).
How it arrives:
Direct Deposit: Sent directly to the bank account on file with Medicare/Social Security.
Northeast Times
Paper Check: Mailed to the address on file for those without direct deposit setups.
Northeast Times
Inquiries: To check your eligibility status, you can contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). For specific tracking of direct deposits or paper checks, contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213.
NYC TRS RMD – Note, your TDA is a 403B.
Under the Teachers' Retirement System of the City of New York (TRS), Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) apply to participants who maintain a Tax-Deferred Annuity (TDA) account after separating from service.
RMD Rules & Age Deadlines:
Starting Age: Following federal SECURE 2.0 guidelines, members who separated from service must begin taking RMDs from their TDA account starting in the year they reach age 73.
First Distribution Deadline: Your initial RMD must be taken by April 1 of the calendar year following the year you turn 73.
Subsequent Deadlines: All subsequent RMDs must be taken by December 31 of each calendar year.
Exemption for Active Employees: If you are age 73 or older but still actively working in NYC DOE/TRS-covered employment, you are not required to take RMDs until after you officially separate from service or retire.
Let me remind you if you did not change the distribution date or tax withholding, you will receive your distribution on October 31st and there will be a 10% federal tax withholding. This is the first time TRS has taken the liberty to make the distribution before December 31st
NYC TRS COLA 2026
The Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) rate for eligible retirees under the Teachers' Retirement System of the City of New York (TRS NYC) for 2026 is 1.7%.
This adjustment took effect with the September 30, 2026 retirement allowance payment.
Summary of the 2026 NYC TRS COLA:
COLA Rate: 1.7%
Effective Date: September 30, 2026 (applies through August 2027)
Maximum Monthly Increase: $25.50 per month ($306 annually) for retirees receiving $18,000 or more in eligible base benefit.
Calculation Base: By New York State law, the COLA percentage is calculated on up to the first $18,000 of the original retirement benefit. It is equal to 50% of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase from March to March, rounded up to the nearest tenth of a percent, capped between a minimum of 1% and a maximum of 3%.
Eligibility Criteria:
To receive the annual COLA, a retiree must meet one of the following requirements:
Age 62 or older and retired for at least 5 years.
Age 55 or older and retired for at least 10 years.
Receiving a disability retirement allowance for at least 5 years.
A surviving spouse receiving a lifetime benefit (eligible for 50% of the retiree's COLA amount, up to $12.75 per month).
Senior Care Co-Pay Settlement Update
Retirees who received a claim form regarding the $15 GHI Senior Care copays charged from January 1, 2022 through January 31, 2023 should complete and return the form.
If you submit acceptable documentation showing the copays you paid, you may receive full reimbursement of your documented copays.
If you do not have documentation, you should still sign and return the claim form. You may receive 40% reimbursement of your eligible copays, up to a maximum of $100.
If you believe you are eligible but did not receive a claim form, please contact Atticus Administration, the Settlement Claims Administrator, at 1-800-814-2610.
The deadline to submit a claim is October 30, 2026.
2026 CSA Conference
CSA’s 2026 Leadership Conference will take place on Saturday, October 24, 2026 at the New York Hilton Midtown.
This year’s theme is “Leading with Purpose: Innovate, Engage, Transform.”
The program will include professional development workshops, the keynote presentation, and our traditional luncheon. We will recognize members with our Peter S. O’Brien Award, our Unionist of the Year Awards, and the Retiree Chapter’s Friends of Education Awards.
Registration is now open and closes Friday, October 16th, Earlier closure is possible if capacity is reached.
Associations
On behalf of the Black Caucus of the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators (BCCSA), CSA Retirees are invited to join for the 2026–2027 BCCSA Kickoff Celebration on Thursday, October 15, 2026, from 5:00–8:00 p.m. at CSA Headquarters (40 Rector Street, New York, NY 10006). As they begin another year of excellence, advocacy, and empowerment, they look forward to bringing together members, CSA leadership, partners, and friends for an evening of fellowship, meaningful connections, and celebration.
The CSA Veterans Council and Irish Caucus are launching a book study centered on From Dublin to Bull Run to Baghdad and Beyond: The Story of the Fighting 69th by Colonel James P. Tierney. This engaging text chronicles the history of New York's famed Fighting 69th Infantry Regiment, tracing its roots from Irish immigration and the Civil War through modern military service in Iraq. Through this book study, participants will explore the intersections of American history, labor and union values, military service, leadership, citizenship, and the contributions of immigrant communities to our nation. They will have discussions centered around themes of sacrifice, solidarity, patriotism, diversity, and civic responsibility while connecting historical events to contemporary issues. The book study will run for 1 hour every month for 6 months. All participants will receive the book for free. Anyone interested in joining, reach out to pgil@csa-nyc.org.
Bay Alarm Medical
A medical alert system with an added measure of security — and a big discount. Bay Alarm was rated the best by Consumers Report.
Through a special deal negotiated by CSA, all members, both in service and retired, and their families are eligible for significant discounts on services from Bay Alarm Medical, a provider of 24/7 monitored medical alert systems.
How the Service Works:
Each system includes a wearable device, such as a pendant or wristband, that has a help button. If assistance is needed, pressing the button connects the user directly to a trained, U.S.-based emergency operator. Some devices also offer optional automatic fall detection, which can trigger an alert even if the button is not pressed.
Members may choose from several types of coverage - in-home systems or Mobile GPS-enabled devices.
Plans are offered on a month-to-month basis, without long-term contracts.
For many families, it also provides peace of mind knowing that support is only a button press away. The member pricing makes it more accessible than ever to add this extra layer of protection.
Prices start at $18.95 a month for home cellular to $30.95 for a Smartwatch that provides nationwide coverage. It comes with free shipping and a fifteen-day money back trial period. You need to mention CSA in order to receive the discount.
For more information about the available plans and member savings, either call a dedicated CSA number – 866 984-0506 or visit https://www.bayalarmmedical.com/csa/