Description of problem
I have worked as a respiratory therapist for St Clares Hospital in Schenectady New York since 1/1/1977. St Clares Hospital is closing due to Berger Commission guidelines. This is a church pension not covered under erisa. Retirement notice given 12/17/2007 tenured with 10 weeks notice because my department was short staffed and human resources told me it would take 10 weeks to process pension papers, so last day of employment was 2/29/2008. Pension dispursement date 3/1/2008. Hospital changed there pension guidelines effective 2/25/2008. They were age 55 and 30 years of service. Now they are age 66. Following IRS social security guidelines. They are denying my pension due to the change. Had filled out pension documents 2/4/2008. Human resources told me , that if I gave 2 weeks notice, my dispursement date would have been 2/1/2008 and I would have received my full pension. They also have said that they were 6 other employees in my situation.
Anyone have suggestions to address this issue of denial of pension benefits?

