Pension payments will be paid in full and on time.
March 30, 2020: As Rhode Island responds to the COVID-19 pandemic, the health and safety of members remains our top priority. We are especially grateful to our members who are on the front lines ensuring public safety and providing essential services, and to our dedicated educators who are overcoming unprecedented obstacles to teach Rhode Island's students.
ERSRI is open and operational. We have instituted our business continuity plan which includes tele-working policies for employees who can work remotely. This may temporarily reduce staffing levels and impact response times. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
All divisions of Rhode Island Treasury, including ERSRI, have taken measures to ensure that payments to Rhode Islanders, including pension and disability payments, tax refund checks, unclaimed property claims, and unemployment insurance benefits are made on time. Retirees will continue to receive their pension benefit payments as usual.
To ensure that Rhode Island is able meet our financial obligations, even as tax revenues decline, the state has taken unprecedented action.
Last week, Governor Raimondo and Treasurer Magaziner requested that the General Assembly convene the Disaster Emergency Funding Board for the first time in state history. The Board authorized the state to borrow up to $300 million, as an emergency line of credit, to guarantee that the state can continue to provide essential services to residents.
Under no circumstances will money from the pension system be used to balance the state budget, as was done during the credit union crisis of the 1990s.
Rhode Island has implemented mandatory COVID-19 screening for all employees and visitors to state buildings, including the Member Service Center. Please do not to come to the Service Center unless it is a necessity. We will gladly help you with any issue via phone, email or online.
- All Group Retirement Counseling sessions are postponed. Retirement counselors will reach out to affected members individually to discuss alternate options.
- Appointments with Retirement Counselors will be held over the phone. If you have an appointment, your retirement counselor will be in touch to discuss details.
If you have pension-related questions, please call the Service Center at 401-462-7600 Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. or
contact us by e-mail at ersri@ersri.org.
Additional resources for members, including fact sheets and forms, are available anytime at ERSRI.org
COVID-19 Information & Resources
- Information for older adults and people with medical conditions
- How to protect yourself
- What to do if you are sick
- How to prepare for COVID-19
If you have questions about COVID-19, please visit health.ri.gov/covid or call 401-222-8022 (Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm). Outside of business hours, please call 211.
