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Professor testifies she was misled on buyback options; bill filed to remedy her case
Summary
Roberta Wallins told the Joint Committee on Public Service she was given incorrect advice by UMass Boston HR about eligibility to buy back out‑of‑state teaching service; Senator John Keenan filed a bill she says would correct her unique situation.
Roberta Wallins testified that she moved to Massachusetts in 2006 to join UMass Boston and was told by university personnel she could buy back 11 years of prior teaching at Indiana University, including university payment for up to five years of creditable service.
Wallins said she followed the university advice, closed TIAA accounts over 10 years and later applied in February 2016 to the Massachusetts Retirement Board to buy back the years. She told the committee she was “shocked to be denied,” and that the erroneous guidance left her financially worse off.
Wallins described the situation as a “cascade of incorrect information and bad advice” that caused long‑term financial harm, and said at age 77 she had prolonged her work life because the pension she expected did not materialize.
Senator John Keenan spoke in support, calling the case unique and rooted in reliance on incorrect information from university staff. Keenan urged the committee to view the bill as a fairness measure rather than a broad policy change; the sponsor and Wallins said they do not expect significant cost to the Commonwealth because the facts are narrow.
The committee heard the testimony and had brief discussion; no formal committee vote was taken during the hearing.
