As a result, past members of the retirement system who left and then returned to their jobs will be able to recover those earlier years of pension credit.
Basic numbers show why the law focuses on women.
More than one in 10 women who are elderly live in poverty. Their poverty stems from the fact that women spend an average of 11.5 years out of the workforce, caring for children or elderly parents. Tiers one and two offered the best benefits and were non-contributory. Now workers with a break in service can apply for coverage under their original tier. For many this means improved benefits at retirement and more take-home pay now without the 3 percent pension deduction.