Lawrence Retirement Board
Proudly Serving the Municipal
Employees and Retirees of the
City of Lawrence
We are located at Riverwalk
354 Merrimack St. - Entry C - 3rd Fl
Lawrence, MA 01843
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Phone - 978 620-3570
Email: grizzo@cityoflawrence.com​
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Hours - Monday-Thursday 7:00-3:00
Friday 7:00-12:00
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Welcome
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The City of Lawrence Retirement Board Members and Office Staff are ready to assist you with any questions you may have regarding your retirement system. As always we would like to encourage our members and retirees to contact the office with any questions or concerns that may arise. This web site was created so that our members and retirees would have yet another tool to find information regarding their municipal pension. We hope you find our site informative and easy to navigate. We are happy to have you as a visitor and encourage you to come back often!
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This information is not intended as a substitute for the Massachusetts General Laws nor will its interpretation prevail should a conflict arise between its contents and MGL Chapter 32. Rules governing retirement benefits are subject to change periodically either by statute of the Massachusetts Legislature or by regulation of the Lawrence Retirement Board.
Our Board is governed by the Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission, PERAC. Their mission is to provide regulatory oversight and guidance for the effective, equitable, and ethical operation of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ public pension systems.
* Alerts: Special Hours:
May 26th - Closed
June 2nd-4th Closed (Retirement Conference)
June 19th - Closed
July 4th - Closed
PUBLIC NOTICE-COLA HEARING
FISCAL YEAR 2026
February 20, 2025
To all units of the City of Lawrence Retirement System
Notice of COLA Hearing
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Purpose
Pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 32, Section 103 (i), please
accept this memorandum as formal notice that on Tuesday, March 25th, 2025 at 8:30a.m., the Lawrence Retirement Board will conduct a public meeting at 354 Merrimack St. to discuss whether it will elect to grant a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), not to exceed 3% in the aggregate (up to the first $14,000 of the retirement allowance), to the Lawrence Retirement System’s retirees and survivors.
Conditional Effective Date:
If approved, allowances will increase effective July 1st, 2025. Also, this will be applicable to all those who retired on or before June 30th, 2024.
We are pleased to announce that at the board voted to grant a 3% Cola, capped at 14K effective 7/1/2025
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NOTICE TO: ALL ACTIVE / INACTIVE AND RETIRED MEMBERS OF THE LAWRENCE RETIREMENT SYSTEM
SUBJECT: ELECTION FOR TWO BOARD MEMBER
POSITIONS TO THE LAWRENCE RETIREMENT BOARD
DATE: MARCH 3, 2025
There will be an election for two Board Member positions to the LAWRENCE RETIREMENT BOARD. Elected Members will serve 3-year terms commencing July 3rd, 2025. In order to be eligible to be a candidate, you must be either an active or retired member of the Lawrence Retirement System.
If interested, nomination papers will be available beginning March 4TH, 2025 at the Retirement Office located at 354 MERRIMACK STREET –3rd Floor, Entry C, LAWRENCE. Anyone wishing to run for an upcoming board member position must return the nomination papers containing signatures and addresses of at least twenty (20) Active or Retired Members of the Lawrence Retirement System. Nomination papers must be returned prior to NOON on Thursday March 27th, 2025.
The election will be conducted by mail. Once candidates are determined, ballots will be mailed to every active/inactive and retired member. Ballots must be returned to the Retirement Office, BY MAIL ONLY, prior to the last mail delivery on June 20th, 2025. Tabulation of Ballots will be conducted Thursday June 26th, 2025 in the Retirement Office, beginning at 10:00 a.m.
Questions, Contact the Retirement Board at (978) 620-3570.
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ELECTION RESULTS:
Per 840 CMR 7:05
It is hereby determined that Robert Wilson and Diane Cockroft, were the only candidates that returned nomination papers for the approved simultaneous election.
At the meeting of the board on 04/29/2025 Robert Wilson and Diane Cockroft, were hereby declared Board Members of the Lawrence Retirement Board and that no election shall be held.
Both terms will commence on July 3rd, 2025 and Expire on July 2nd, 2028. Mr. Wilson and Mrs. Cockroft will serve in all respects as though elected by election.
Events & Updates
All monthly meetings are held in our conference room located at 354 Merrimack St., Entry C, 3rd Floor, Lawrence Ma 01843
Current Agenda
Upcoming Board Meeting:
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Tuesday, May 27th, 2025 @ 8:30 a.m.
Attention Active Members:
Notice for all retirement active members who qualify as a veteran
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Attention Retirees:
Effective 1/1/2025, we will no longer be mailing direct deposit memorandums each month. You will be able to sign up for our portal to access your monthly payment info. Please see tab above titled "MY PORTAL". We will send mailings to your home soon.
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Bi-Annual verifications for pensions paid in 2024 were sent out the first week of January, 2025 - Please note, you will have two option for return. Either have your verification notarized or bring it in person, with an ID for us to verify. Failure to return your form will result in your pension being stopped. THANK YOU to everyone that returned your form. The next mailing will be January of 2027.
Cost of Living Increase (COLA)
Please note: if you retired prior to June 30th, 2024 you will see an increase in your July 31st, 2025, pension check. The cost of living was granted at a rate of 3% on the first $14,000 of earnings. Maximum COLA is $35 per month.
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Exciting News: Information on the Repeal of the Social Security Windfall Act (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) CLICK HERE
The Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission (GIC) open enrollment will be April 2 - May 1, 2025 for changes effective July 1, 2025.
As a GIC member, Annual Enrollment is your opportunity to review benefit options and better understand the upcoming plan year changes to make coverage updates for benefits effective July 1, 2025.
Please Note: GIC RATE CHANGES EFFECTIVE YOUR JUNE PENSION CHECK -We have been told by the UNIT that the GIC rates are going up quite a bit.
To enroll in GIC MYGICLink Click HERE
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2025-2026 Benefit Guide Altus Dental
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Cost of Living Increase (COLA) Base Increase
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Update: 10/4/22 - We are happy to announce that the Lawrence City Council unanimously approved the boards recommendation to increase the COLA base from 12K to 14K effective July 2023.
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The City of Lawrence Retirement Board Members and Office Staff are always on hand and ready to assist you with any questions you may have regarding your retirement system. As always we would like to encourage our members and retirees to contact the office with any questions or concerns that may arise.
Our board fund is currently managed by the Pension Reserves Investment Management Board - PRIM
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