Retirees who teach may lose money

Re “Making retirees’ second act a class act,” June 9

I chose to teach as a second career and have found it rewarding. I would encourage others to do so as well. However, before retirees go into teaching, they should be fully informed of what they stand to lose in Social Security benefits.

Teachers in California and several other states are subject to a Social Security offset because of the pension received by the State Teachers’ Retirement System. Perhaps Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sherry Lansing could campaign for the offset elimination as part of their attempt to lure second-career teachers into public service. If the offset continues, the Legislature should mandate that all public school teachers be fully informed before beginning their careers. I know I was shocked when I found out how much my choice was going to cost me!

SARAH COOPER

Redondo Beach

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It’s a good thing that the newly recruited retirees “don’t need a high salary” because, as an accompanying article points out, the Los Angeles Unified School District can’t pay its teachers correctly. There have been six months of payroll chaos at the LAUSD. Where is the outrage on the part of Lansing and Schwarzenegger?

ALEXA MAXWELL

Los Angeles