McClintock v. Maine Public Employees Retirement System

# McClintock v. Maine Public Employees Retirement System **What Happened** Janet McClintock disputed how her work years counted toward her public employee pension. She had worked part-time hours, but in a position classified as full-time. She believed this should entitle her to full credit toward her retirement benefits. **The Court's Decision** The Maine Supreme Court sided with the retirement system. The court ruled that McClintock was not entitled to full pension credit. The deciding factor was her job classification—what mattered was whether her position was officially categorized as part-time or full-time, not the actual hours she worked. Since she worked part-time hours in a full-time position, she received less pension credit. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling clarifies how pension systems calculate retirement benefits. It shows that job classification, rather than actual hours worked, determines pension credit eligibility. Workers should understand how their employer classifies their positions, as this affects retirement benefits. If you work fewer hours than your job classification suggests, it may impact your pension calculations—something worth discussing with your employer's retirement system.