Vacaville, CA asked in Employment Law for California

Q: I made a decision to retire based on information given me by the Retirement Center that I was eligible for retirement.

Apparently they say two months post retirement that I lack .40 in time in order to have meet healthcare benefits eligibility. I would not have made the decision to retire knowing this was the case. I would’ve continued working. However, I was informed that I met eligibility requirements. I have each encounter documented for 1 1/2 years past where I was trying to make sure of my eligibility.

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2 Lawyer Answers
Neil Pedersen
Neil Pedersen
Answered
  • Westminster, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: You have not asked a question which causes me to believe the purpose of your post is to get an attorney to assist you in your matter. Unfortunately this Q&A board is not the place to do that.

If you want legal representation regarding your issue, I would suggest you look either on this site, or go to www.cela.org, the home page for the California Employment Lawyers Association, an organization whose members are dedicated to the representation of employees against their employers. Look for an employee benefits attorney.

Most employment attorneys who practice this area of law offer a free or low cost consultation in the beginning and then, if the matter has merit and value, will usually agree to work on a contingency basis, meaning you can hire an attorney without paying any money until the matter results in a positive outcome for you. Many advance all the costs of the litigation as well. Do not let fear of fees and costs keep you from finding a good attorney.

Good luck to you.

Eva Zelson
Eva Zelson
Answered

A: More information is needed here. Is the “retirement center” part of the human resources department at your former employer, or somehow affiliated with the company? If you’ve got it in writing from your employer that you were eligible for healthcare benefits upon retirement, it seems like the company should honor that. However, you should seek the advice of an employment attorney, who will review any pertinent contracts and paperwork concerning eligibility and then give you specific advice for your next steps.

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