Pensions and Retirement Benefits
Legal Information
This section of PALawHelp.org has information and resources about Pension and Retirement Benefit issues in Pennsylvania.
Click on a resource category listed below to see information related to that category.
Request for Social Security Earnings Information
This form will request verification of employment dates from the Social Security Administration. You may need this if you are having difficulty obtaining dates of employment for a pension, social security application, or personal reason. Please note: fees apply depending on the number of years you are requesting. [PDF] (02-2021) FREE yearly totals of earnings are available at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
Request for Social Security Earnings Information
This form will request verification of employment dates from the Social Security Administration. You may need this if you are having difficulty obtaining dates of employment for a pension, social security application, or personal reason. Please note: fees apply depending on the number of years you are requesting. [PDF] (02-2021) FREE yearly totals of earnings are available at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
Federal Court Finder
Find a federal court location by location or court name, including appellate, district, bankruptcy, probation and pretrial office, or federal defender organization. Each District Court has its own local forms which are generally available on the Court website.
A Look At 401(k) Plan Fees
This publication from the United States Department of Labor includes descriptions of different types of investments typically offered through 401(k) plans. The information contained in this booklet answers some common questions about the fees and expenses that may be paid by your 401(k) plan. It highlights the most common fees and encourages you, as a 401(k) plan participant, to make informed investment decisions; consider fees as one of several factors in your decision making; compare all services received with the total cost; and realize that cheaper is not necessarily better. (September 2019)
Cash Balance Pension Plans
If your company is converting its traditional pension plan benefit formula to a new cash balance pension plan benefit formula, you may have some questions about how this change will affect you. This Fact Sheet from the United States Department of Labor provides responses to some of the most often asked questions about such a change.
Investing And Diversification
Information on resources from the U.S. Department of Labor that can help you choose or direct your investments in your workplace retirement plan.
New Employee Savings Tips - Time Is On Your Side
Tips from the United States Department of Labor on starting your retirement planning. [PDF] (September 2019)
QDROs - The Division of Retirement Benefits Through Qualified Domestic Relations Orders
Information from the United States Department of Labor on whether and how to divide a participant's interest in a retirement plan in separation, divorce, and other domestic relations proceedings. This booklet was prepared by the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) of the U.S. Department of Labor to provide general guidance about qualified domestic relations orders to employers, retirement plan administrators, participants, beneficiaries, employee benefit professionals, and domestic relations specialists.
Retirement Plans-Benefits & Savings
Information from the United States Department of Labor regarding retirement plans offered by your employer.
Savings Fitness: A Guide to Your Money and Your Financial Future
This publication from the United States Department of Labor provides an overview of how to include retirement savings in your overall financial plan. This publication is available in English and Spanish.
Ten Warning Signs That 401(k) Contributions Are Being Misused
An anti-fraud campaign by the Department of Labor uncovered a small fraction of employers who abused employee contributions by either using the money for corporate purposes or holding on to the money too long. Here are 10 warning signs from the United States Department of Labor that your pension contributions are being misused.
Your Employer's Bankruptcy - How Will It Affect Your Employee Benefits?
Information from the United States Department of Labor on how your retirement and health benefits might be affected when your employer files for bankruptcy. (November 2016)
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
Website of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), a federal corporation created to protect employee retirement benefits. It currently protects the retirement incomes of more than 44 million American workers in more than 29,000 private-sector defined benefit pension plans.
Request for Social Security Earnings Information
This form will request verification of employment dates from the Social Security Administration. You may need this if you are having difficulty obtaining dates of employment for a pension, social security application, or personal reason. Please note: fees apply depending on the number of years you are requesting. [PDF] (02-2021) FREE yearly totals of earnings are available at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
Taking the Mystery Out of Retirement Planning
This publication from the United States Department of Labor is designed to assist individuals who are within 10 years of retirement plan their finances. It will help you to unravel the financial mysteries of life after work and to discover changes you can make for a financially secure future.
What You Should Know About Your Retirement Plan
Information from the United States Department of Labor to help you understand how your employer's retirement savings plan works and what benefits you will receive.
Health And Retirement Benefits Coverage Information For Reservists
Information from the United States Department of Labor providing questions and answers for reservists about their rights protecting their retirement benefits and the health benefit options available to their family members to maintain health coverage during the time of active duty.
USERRA - Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
Information from the United States Department of Labor on the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act which protects civilian job rights and benefits for veterans and members of Reserve components.
Consumer Information On Retirement Plans
Listing of consumer information from the Employee Benefits Security Administration of the United States Department of Labor on retirement plans and issues.
Employee Benefits Security Administration
Website of the Employee Benefits Security Administration of the United States Department of Labor providing information on pension and employee benefit issues.
Job Loss - Important Information Workers Need To Know To Protect Their Health Coverage and Retirement Benefits
This fact sheet focuses on job loss, its effect on workers’ health benefits and retirement benefits, and how these laws impact workers’ rights. When facing job loss or a reduction in hours, you need to know your options ahead of time to prevent loss of health coverage. There may be several options available to individuals who are losing their health coverage when they lose their jobs.
Termination
If you've lost your job, you have certain rights, such as the right to continue your health care coverage and, in some cases, the right to unemployment compensation. Here is information from the U.S. Department of Labor about your rights when you are terminated from your employment.
Publications and Reports
Consumer Information, Publications and Reports from the United States Department of Labor on a variety of health and retirement topics.
Pension Rights Project
Informaton on the Pension Rights Project, a regional Pension Counseling Project funded by the U. S. Administration on Aging, helping Pennsylvania workers, retirees and their families with pension problems.