Question: When will substitute teachers be getting their money? They seem to be giving us different dates, and no money is coming.
Answer: The latest word is that payments totaling $15 million for unpaid daily wages could begin going out in mid-December, making for a merry Christmas for some 8,000 substitute teachers.
Payments will range from “a few hundred dollars” to nearly $20,000, depending on when and how much they worked, said Paul Alston, whose law firm filed a class-action lawsuit seeking back pay for the teachers more than 10 years ago.
The settlement involves claims for daily wages, not for payment of hourly wages, which total about
$7 million, or for interest payments, which now total about $13 million, he said.
“The state has agreed to pay about $15 million to the substitute teachers for their daily wages,” Alston said. However, it is appealing the judge’s ruling that the teachers also are owed a total of about $20 million more for hourly wages and accrued interest.
“We expect to finalize all the proceedings before the end of this year,” he said.
But before that, on Nov. 15, a hearing is scheduled before Circuit Judge Karl Sakamoto at which final approval is expected to be given on the settlement for the daily wages, he said.
There then has to be a 30-day waiting period for possible appeals.
After that “we’ll have the green light to begin distributing the money,” Alston said. “Barring any problems, we will be in a position where the distributions can begin to occur before Christmas.”
Question: After the tenant from my rental house moved out, I called Hawaiian Electric Co. to have the service and billing transferred to me until I get a new tenant. I provided the number of another account in my name, and the customer service representative verified my name, address and phone number and said someone would be out to read the meter. But someone else called back and said that they required my Social Security number, even though she acknowledged that I am a longtime customer. I did not give it to her, and she is giving me a few days before they cancel my request. Why do they need my SSN? Is it all right for a utility to ask for that information? Can they refuse me service, even though I have paid every bill under my name on time for years?
Answer: As we’ve explained previously, HECO and any other nongovernment retailer, business or organization can ask for your Social Security number.
It’s up to you to decide whether you want to give it, according to the Social Security Administration. However, by refusing to do so, you can be denied a service or goods. (See is.gd/9ZTncR Opens in a new tab.)
In this case, HECO says if you do not want to provide your Social Security number, you must go in person to its office, either at 900 Richards St. or 820 Ward Ave., and present a valid photo ID (such as a driver’s license or state ID card) to process your request.
As posted on its website, heco.com, HECO says it asks for SSNs to comply with the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act of 2003, which mandates it protect customers against identity theft.
HECO says when customers provide an SSN, “an ID validation is done through a credit reporting agency. This is to ensure your identification is protected and not fraudulently used in any way.”
HECO says it uses SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) security to ensure that data are transmitted securely and sensitive data are encrypted in its system.
Mahalo
To the person who found and turned in my wallet intact to the Iwilei Home Depot garden shop cashier in August. I had a stroke and had just gotten out of the hospital, so very much appreciate your kindness and honesty. God bless you! — Rowland
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Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
