Several retirees from the City of Houston are demanding their pension payouts, months after they took the city's early retirement buyout offer. The deal, which was intended to help address a $330 million budget shortfall, was offered to around 3,000 employees. Of these, approximately 1,000 retirees opted for the buyout in April, but many have yet to receive their pension payments.

Retirees were told the process would take 30 to 60 days, but as of now, they’re still waiting. Kathy Caldwell, a former City of Houston employee who worked in parks and recreation and police reports for over two decades, shared her frustration with Eyewitness News. I strongly regret retiring. I strongly regret it, she tearfully expressed. “I need my money.” Caldwell, like many other retirees, has been left in financial turmoil as bills pile up and her pension remains unpaid.

Caldwell, now several months into retirement, is also actively seeking new employment as she struggles to make ends meet. “I wasn’t just a seat filler. I was an employee to the max. Now, the City of Houston needs to do theirs. Give me my money,” Caldwell added.

City of Houston Responds to Pension Payment Delays

In response to growing concerns, Mayor Joh Whitmire’s office issued a statement saying the delay in pension payments was unacceptable. While the pension system controls the payments, the mayor has reportedly raised the issue with them, emphasizing that the retirees deserve timely action. Caldwell, however, remains frustrated, insisting that the pension system and the city are closely linked and should take responsibility for the delay. “I expect better than that!” she declared.

Eyewitness News has reached out to the Houston Municipal Employees Pension System for a timeline on when retirees will start receiving their payments, but there has been no response yet. Meanwhile, Caldwell and other retirees continue to face mounting challenges as they await the pension payments they were promised after their years of service.