Accomplishments

Your South Carolina State Employees Association was formally established in 1945 to advance the welfare of state employees and retirees. Over the years, SCSEA has successfully lobbied for many programs to improve the income, pensions, and benefits of state employees and retirees, Since the mid-1940's, SCSEA has played a key role in the establishment of:

*Health insurance for employees and retirees with premiums paid by the state 

*Dental insurance for employees and retirees with premiums paid by the state 

*Classification and Compensation Plan

*A solid record of pay raises (28 of the past 30 years), to include cost-of-living, merit, in-grade, and bonus increases

*Establishment of the Retirement System with improvements in benefits, to include annual cost-of-living increases to retirees

*Up to $6,000 life insurance for retirees paid for by the state

*Full retirement benefits with 28 years of service with a Teacher/Employee Retention Incentive Program (TERI), and many other retiree benefits

*Excellent sick leave program to include maternity benefit and use of sick leave for family illness, and a leave bank allowing employees to contribute leave for use by those with great need

*High-quality annual leave program with extra benefits for career employees

*State Grievance Procedure

*Deferred Compensation Program

*Good state holiday schedule

*Defeat of numerous legislative proposals detrimental to state employees and retirees

*Payroll deduction of Association dues

These are just some of the outstanding accomplishments, but many more improvements are needed. SCSEA will continue to work for benefits, but we need YOUR support!

Cost-of-Living, Merit, Bonus Pay Raises Granted to State Employees and Increases in Inflation   (PDF Document)

For many years, SCSEA has also established an exceptional record on behalf of STATE RETIREES! The Association was actually organized in the early 1940's by state employees who wanted to establish a State Retirement System. Their lobbying effort was successful with the establishment of the Retirement System in 1945 and since that time SCSEA has worked very hard for its retired Association members.

Working very closely with leaders of the State Retirement System and legislators, SCSEA has helped acquire many NEW and IMPROVED benefits for STATE RETIREES, too:

State Retiree Advancements

1980    An additional 2% along with the regular 4% cost-of-living increase. State began full payment of retiree health insurance premiums for retiree-only coverage, rather than partial payment. Retirees can earn up to $5,000 before state retirement benefits are affected.

1981    An additional 2% "Bonus" along with the regular 4% cost-of-living increase. Retirees can earn up to $5,500 before state retirement benefits are affected.

1982    Regular 4% cost-of-living increase. Following retirement, retirees receive first cost-of-living increase after a year, rather than a two-year wait. Retirees can earn up to $6,000 before state retirement benefits are affected.

1983    An additional 1% "Bonus" along with the regular 4% cost-of-living increase. Retirees can earn up to $6,500 before state retirement benefits are affected.

1984    An additional 2% "Bonus" along with the regular 4% cost-of-living increase. Dental insurance benefits effective February 15, 1985 for retirees and their dependents with state paying retiree-only premium. Retirees can earn up to $7,000 before state retirement benefits are affected.

1985    An additional 1 % "Bonus" along with the regular 4% cost-of-living increase. Up to $3,000 life insurance benefit for retirees paid for by the state. Retirees can earn up to $7,500 before state retirement benefits are affected.        

1986    Regular 4% cost-of-living increase. Retirees can earn up to $8,000 before state retirement benefits are affected.

1987    Regular 4% cost-of-living increase. Retirees can earn up to $8,500 before state retirement benefits are affected. 

1988    An additional 10% increase along with the regular 4% cost-of-living increase. Retirees can earn up to $9,000 before state retirement benefits are affected.              

1989    Regular 4% cost-of-living increase. An additional 7% increase to off-set requirement that retirees pay state income taxes on state retirement benefits because of United States Supreme Court decision. Retirees can earn up to $9,500 before state retirement benefits are affected.

1990    Regular 4% cost-of-living increase. Retirees can earn up to $10,000 before state retirement benefits are affected.

1991    Regular 4% cost-of-living increase. Retirees can earn up to $10,500 before state retirement benefits are affected. State pays increased premiums for health insurance coverage with no increase to retirees.

1992    Regular 4% cost-of-living increase. State pays increased premiums for health insurance coverage with no increase to retirees.   

1993    2.9% cost-of-living increase. Retirees can earn up to $11,500 before state retirement benefits are affected. State pays increased premiums for health insurance coverage with no increase to retirees.

1994    2.5% cost-of-living increase. Retirees can earn up to $12,000 before state retirement benefits are affected. State pays increased premiums for health insurance coverage with no increase to retirees.

1995    2.7% cost-of-living increase. Retirees can earn up to $12,500 before state retirement benefits are affected. State pays increased premiums for health insurance coverage with no increase to retirees.

1996    2.5% cost-of-living increase. Retirees can earn up to $13,000 before state retirement benefits are affected.  State pays increased premiums for health and dental insurance coverage with no increase to retirees.

1997    4.0% cost-of-living increase. Retirees can earn up to $15,000 before state retirement benefits are affected.

1998    1.5% cost-of-living increase. Retirees can earn up to $15,500 before state retirement benefits are affected.

1999    1.6% cost-of-living increase. Retirees can earn up to $25,000 before state retirement benefits are affected.

2000    2.7% cost-of-living increase. Doubling of retirees' life insurance benefit to $2,000 for 10-19 years, $4,000 for 20-24 years and $6,000 for 25 or more years of creditable service. Beneficiaries now receive the full retirement allowance for the month in which a retiree dies.

2001    3.4% cost-of-living increase. Retirees can earn up to $50,000 before State Retirement benefits are affected.

2002    1.3% cost-of-living increase. Police Officers Retirement System now has no earnings limitation.

2003    2.4% cost-of-living increase.

2004    1.6% cost-of-living increase.

2005       3.4% cost-of-living increase.  Guaranteed 1% COLA provision.  No earnings limitation.

2006       3.5% cost-of-living increase.

2007       2.4% cost-of-living increase.

EVERY STATE RETIREE SHOULD BE A MEMBER OF SCSEA!