Get the Facts

The Pension Rights Center has written numerous fact sheets, newsletters, pamphlets and books to promote public awareness of pension issues, and to help workers and retirees understand their pension plans and the laws and regulations that govern them. There are also many publications published by other organizations that provide helpful information about retirement programs.

Statistics (View All)

How Much Is Saved in 401(k)s

Increasingly, retirement savings plans have become the way American workers accumulate the money they will need to supplement their Social Security payments in retirement.

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Income from Other Sources

Older adults also receive income from other sources, such as earnings from work, assets, and public assistance.

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Sources of Income for Older Adults

Today’s older adults typically have a number of sources of income. For most, the primary source of income is Social Security. Other sources are income from investments and other assets, pensions and other retirement plans, earnings from work and, for a small percentage, public assistance programs and veterans benefits.

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Fact Sheets (View All)

Problems with ESOPs

An employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) is a retirement plan in which investments are made primarily in the employer’s stock.

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Resources for Participants in Multiemployer Pension Plans in “Critical and Declining” Status

The Multiemployer Pension Reform Act of 2014 (MPRA) allows severely underfunded multiemployer pension plans that are in “critical and declining” status to seek Treasury Department approval to cut pension benefits.

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Plans that have filed "critical and declining" status notices with the U.S. Department of Labor

The Multiemployer Pension Reform Act of 2014 gives the trustees of underfunded multiemployer plans that meet the definition of being in “critical and declining” status almost unprecedented authority to cut retiree pension benefits.

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Reports (View All)

Employee Stock Ownership Plans: Are They Worth the Risks?

In good financial times, Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) have the appearance of being an excellent deal for employees, because ESOPs offer partial ownership over the company that employs them.

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Laying the Groundwork for More Efficient Retirement Savings Incentives (November 2015)

This report begins by highlighting a few basic reform principles that would make savings incentives more efficient to guide the subsequent recommendations. The report then summarizes the main problems that underlie the inefficiencies of current savings incentives, followed by recommendations to address these problems.

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The Inefficiencies of Existing Retirement Savings Incentives (October 2015)

America’s middle class faces a growing retirement crisis. More than half of all working-age households are expected to be at risk of having to cut back their standard of living—often making painful adjustments—when they retire. There are several reasons for the ever-larger looming crisis, but people’s inability to save enough money is a key obstacle to achieving more retirement security.

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Books (View All)

Longevity Policy: Facing Up to Longevity Issues Affecting Social Security, Pensions, and Older Workers

Turner argues that public policy should recognize longevity policy as a distinct policy area. Rather than separately treating issues raised by life expectancy (e.g., Social Security, pensions, older workers), a unified approach should be developed that recognizes their interrelationship.

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The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974: A Political History

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974: A Political History, by James A. Wooten, 2005.

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Saving Social Security: A Balanced Approach (Revised Edition)

Saving Social Security: A Balanced Approach (Revised Edition), by Peter A. Diamond and Peter R. Orszag, 2005.

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Looking for help with your retirement plan?

If you have a problem with your retirement plan, free help may be available from the U.S. Administration on Aging's network of Pension Counseling and Information Projects. Find help now.

Share your story

What's your story?

We're hearing from people around the country who are worried about cuts to their pensions. These are their stories.

PensionHelp America connects people who need help with their pension, 401(k), and other retirement plans with the pension counseling projects, legal services providers, and government agencies that can help answer their questions. Visit www.pensionhelp.org.

Roadmap to retirement

Let our roadmap to helpful information about retirement plans for private-sector workers put you on the path toward a secure retirement. Get started.

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In the News

Joint Statement Opposing Consideration of “Composite” Pension Legislation

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the National Retirees Legislative Network, the Pension Rights Center, and the United Steelworkers strongly oppose legislation More...

Did You Know?

A lump-sum distribution is a method of paying benefits from a pension plan in which a participant's entire beenfit is paid out in a one-time payment. Lump sum distributions are sometimes called cash outs.