Telphone concession changes for retirees:

SBC has been sending out a letter to retirees regarding a change on their telephone concession.  After our benefit coordinator requested a clarification, this is what they received:

• For employees that retired on or after 1/1/05, their concession amount will be $20 per month and that will include the following:
  • Unlimited SBC@home direct dialed, Domestic Long Distance service.
  • An access line with unlimited local and local toll calling.
  • All available vertical features.
  • Inside wire maintenance plan.
  • Voice mail service.
    • They can also receive up to 2 additional access lines, $6 a month each for additional lines without vertical features OR
    • $20 a month for each additional line with all vertical features.
• Employees who have retired prior to that date will continue to receive their current benefits as outlined below:
  • Pre-Divestiture Retirees - that retired before 1/1/84 will continue without a monthly contribution.
  • Post-Divestiture Retirees - that retired from 1/1/84 to 12/31/84 will continue to pay $5.00 monthly.
  • The out-of-region retirees will continue to receive their concession as they do today.
• If you have long distance, it must be with SBC so that you can still receive concession.   If you are an AT&T member that gets concession, you must switch to SBC Long Distance, to keep your concession.
• You must call SBC@home by Feb. 28, 2005 or your concession will be removed, if you do not have SBC Long distance.
• For retirees from 12/31/84 to 1/1/05 you should already have received a letter and made all the changes necessary to receive SBC Long Distance.

Just remember if you get a letter from SBC you must respond.  If youare already enrolled in the SBC@home Telephone program, no further action is required. 

**Edited from the Local Link - January-February 2005 Issue