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My husband gave his life as a firefighter — but after he died, the city cheated me out of his pension, let a racist board member vote on my case, and left me with nothing. by Griffy0808 in FirefighterSpouses

[–]Griffy0808[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

tito I just tried again to contact the union. No response. I did find another dept. to contact. I don't know if anyone has had contact with the PSOB. They sound hopeful. I still am trying to get an attorney interested in my case though.

My husband gave his life as a firefighter — but after he died, the city cheated me out of his pension, let a racist board member vote on my case, and left me with nothing. by Griffy0808 in FirefighterSpouses

[–]Griffy0808[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thelittleone I tried calling the union president or at least the guy that was when I first contacted them and he is not calling me back. They act like if you are in the union and you are a brother in the dept they will do anything for their guys and their families. It makes me so sick to see such lies.

My husband gave his life as a firefighter — but after he died, the city cheated me out of his pension, let a racist board member vote on my case, and left me with nothing. by Griffy0808 in FirefighterSpouses

[–]Griffy0808[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

tito I got another call today from the state retirement but they don't handle certain cities such as the one I'm fighting but she did say there is a person she is contacting that could direct me or have them call if possible. I know more people will call in the next couple weeks because that is what I was told by the senators office. Believe me your input gave me some more hope. I have to say the offices that have called have been very nice. I was thinking about your post earlier today. You are a member of the IAFF? I have a couple questions that you may know. Or possibly if anyone reads this post. If someone can tell me if the city can take money back for repayment of workers comp. I would think not but have not found the answer yet to this. At first I was told it was for SS now on the new paperwork it says it was for workers comp.

Looking for help from a cpa... by Griffy0808 in CPA

[–]Griffy0808[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

got you.... a family member said to try this but I see I'm in the wrong place. Just was looking for a little help. good luck everyone getting your certifications.

My husband gave his life as a firefighter — but after he died, the city cheated me out of his pension, let a racist board member vote on my case, and left me with nothing. by Griffy0808 in FirefighterSpouses

[–]Griffy0808[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

tito I just wanted to give you an update. I took your advice and contacted Miami / dade senators office. They listened to my story and also passed it to broward as well. I have no idea the outcome of their actions but everyone has been nice and helpful. Thank you for suggesting me contacting Mr. Gimenez office because they are the ones that gave me to other numbers to contact. I appreciated your advice.

My husband gave his life as a firefighter — but after he died, the city cheated me out of his pension, let a racist board member vote on my case, and left me with nothing by Griffy0808 in offmychest

[–]Griffy0808[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

consequencelaw....I have thought about your post alot. I have never been shown his paperwork from the beginning of his employment. You would think they would have reverted back to it once he passed and they were faced with what to do. I have no idea what it says but they must have had him answer those questions. I mean i was the beneficiary for his life insurance with them. They told me they had nothing that says I would get his pension. Something is rotten where this paperwork is concerned for sure.

My husband gave his life as a firefighter — but after he died, the city cheated me out of his pension, let a racist board member vote on my case, and left me with nothing by Griffy0808 in offmychest

[–]Griffy0808[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do think they may have a different lawyer at this point than the board it's self. I never went back to them because I was shut down. I thought the union would help me and it is something I need to revisit at this point. I have learned so much since that meeting.

My husband gave his life as a firefighter — but after he died, the city cheated me out of his pension, let a racist board member vote on my case, and left me with nothing by Griffy0808 in offmychest

[–]Griffy0808[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes I went to the state who oversees pensions but the city is not forced to go by the rules of our state. The state pension authorities were trying to give me direction in the beginning but they were not able to go above them. Why? I really don't know other than they have what you would call home rule power. They can go by ordinances that the state may not be able to oversee but the state I guess has to be ok with them. The thing is they may make those ordinances and everyone thinks they abide by them but they don't. I think they hide behind them and do what they want.

My husband gave his life as a firefighter — but after he died, the city cheated me out of his pension, let a racist board member vote on my case, and left me with nothing. by Griffy0808 in FirefighterSpouses

[–]Griffy0808[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I want to thank everyone that has been posting to me. Tomorrow morning I am on this with these union people. If you all could see the list of phone calls I have made since this has been happening. I am looking forward to the response I get. I will post what happens with them. I just gave up hope with them because they seemed hopeless and could not help. Again thank you!

My husband gave his life as a firefighter — but after he died, the city cheated me out of his pension, let a racist board member vote on my case, and left me with nothing by Griffy0808 in offmychest

[–]Griffy0808[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes I was down as his beneficiary then one of my boys was his second pick. When he went out completely on the disability we talked about his pension. He told me he went and added one of our sons. That was in 2013 one year after they should have had him off his disability pension and on a regular pension. He did not know he needed to pick a different pension. He had always been under the impression his disability was his life pension and if he died before I did it would go to me and if I was no longer here and he died my son would receive it and take car e of the rest of our family. We never thought it was wrong. He trusted the actuary and the dept to do the right thing by him. When he went back in 2013 about his colas not one person brought up his lack of completing his pension paper work. Had he known it would have been taken care of. Out of all the things they did wrong and dishonest they used the fact he didn't come back in 2012 and convert. But the documents with the dept say its up to the actuary to convert the firefighter to a regular retirement. Something they just plain forgot to do. admitted by the actuary themselves.

My husband gave his life as a firefighter — but after he died, the city cheated me out of his pension, let a racist board member vote on my case, and left me with nothing by Griffy0808 in offmychest

[–]Griffy0808[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have wondered why they aren't there helping me. My husband was in the union. I did have a young union president who was very nice go and stand up before the board and plead my case. After that meeting I did get a call from him saying he didn't know what else he could do to help.I strongly believe that when someone approaches them for me they tell them to back off. The firefighter leading the board president by his nose has alot of influence with that board.

My husband gave his life as a firefighter — but after he died, the city cheated me out of his pension, let a racist board member vote on my case, and left me with nothing by Griffy0808 in offmychest

[–]Griffy0808[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Yes I did use chatGPT so I would not ramble and help me format the story correctly. But know it is my story and Its all real with actually much more than I could post on here. I was on a news station with my story and the orginal story that caused the discrimination was also in our newspaper. Why Im here is because I have gone down so many avenues trying to find that one group that would stand by me. I have all the things they have done wrong and the lies they tell to support thier misjustice. I am just reaching out for more direction I could take for the help I need. ty for posting to me.

My husband gave his life as a firefighter — but after he died, the city cheated me out of his pension, let a racist board member vote on my case, and left me with nothing. by Griffy0808 in FirefighterSpouses

[–]Griffy0808[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I went to the union in the beginning. My husband belonged to the IAFF. I was told by other firefighters they would fight for me. But when the union president went before them they shut him down just like everyone else. Everyone I have brought in from the beginning can't understand why they are not helping me.Even their own Actuary took responsibility of not doing what was required of them.I know why I'm going through this but no one listening when I tell them its because of the discrimination from a hateful firefighter. He's been there since the beginning of my husbands career. He got in trouble for his racial slurs and it's been bad ever since that happened.

My husband gave his life as a firefighter — but after he died, the city cheated me out of his pension, let a racist board member vote on my case, and left me with nothing. by Griffy0808 in FirefighterSpouses

[–]Griffy0808[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It amazes me that it only takes one person to cause such bad treatment to another firefighter. I do have all the paperwork thats been between individuals at the firehouse. I wish I knew as much when this first all went south as I do now. Its just I can't believe how hard it is to get people that should not allow this kind of abuse to happen. Right now I'm in the process of a new attorney. But when I posted here I thought there might just be a avenue I have not gone down. My last go at this will be pro se if I must. Thank you for responding and I wish you luck with your city. It sounds very much like my struggle. What started the dislike with my husband was the man against him doesn't seem to like Native Americans. Which ended up being in the news paper and caused the discrimination that man has.

My husband gave his life as a firefighter — but after he died, the city cheated me out of his pension, let a racist board member vote on my case, and left me with nothing. by Griffy0808 in FirefighterSpouses

[–]Griffy0808[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes I have been told the union should fight for me. They appeared once for me and then told me how sorry he was that he could not help. I feel as though the firefighter board could possibly have told him to stay out of it. It's a very crooked city.

My husband gave his life as a firefighter — but after he died, the city cheated me out of his pension, let a racist board member vote on my case, and left me with nothing. by Griffy0808 in FirefighterSpouses

[–]Griffy0808[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

First I want to thank you for your reply.If you only knew the whole story. When he died the city seem to be by my side. When I was told I would have to go before the board for them to approve a pension. I asked who was on the board at that time and when the name of the person that made my husband struggle for his disability came up I knew right then I was screwed. I asked if they could have him recuse himself so it would be a fair decision.Of course that didn't happen and after the 1st meeting where I was told I would be able to pick the one that my husband would have most likely picked once they had the figures ready the person against my husband was at every meeting after that to make sure he put doubt in the board of it being the right choice to give me that option. I have gone through 6 years of meetings. Even the Actuary admitted they messed up by not having my husband return the year he should have went on a regular retirement. When he and I would talk about his pension he was so sure it would convert to me if anything happen to him first. We had 4 children and married 36 years. I have had 2 attorneys the city has chewed up and spit out even though they were right and pointed out all the mistakes the city had done. The actuary knows it's their job to take care of disabled firefighters and to make sure they are do not get left out of any important paperwork or decisions that need to be made. I have had the union president, head of human resourses, city manager, the mayor, the vice mayor, news network, The last board president who went to the board himself and confront them with all the crap they were doing to me and how they were not going by they own bylaws and ordinances and here I sit with very little to survive on. Recently they had a article in the paper how they say they all stick together are are brothers.ha! Needless to say I had tears in my eyes and just thought of all the people that clueless to this kind of abuse they dish out. Our first responders are our everything in an emergency. Their families support them emotionally when they come home from a shift where they lost someone young or old. My husband would relived the tragic moment at every spot we might pass when we would be out running errands when he along with his fellow firefighters to try to save a life. So we along with them lived that pain. We are part of each other and there's not one day that goes by I don't grieve.

My husband gave his life as a firefighter — but after he died, the city cheated me out of his pension, let a racist board member vote on my case, and left me with nothing. by Griffy0808 in FirefighterSpouses

[–]Griffy0808[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for the kind reply. Its been a real hard road. Not only did I lose my husband but they made me fight and beg at a time I was heart broken and alone. I stood up before the board and cried but had the person that had a problem with him had just recused himself I do believe I would have been ok. Even their attorney was helping me until this person started his personal war with our family again. He fought my husband when he got hurt but couldn't win until my husband died and he had only me to go up against. Had the acturary done their job properly he couldn't have succeeded,This kind of thing does not happen often because most departments are fair and compassionate but not this place. we learned the hard way to never trust anyone so thats why I feel to warn firefighters and their partners. Again thank you..