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)

Income of Today’s Older Adults

As concern about the adequacy of the nation's retirement income programs moves to the forefront of public debate, policymakers and the public are looking to statistics to argue for or against the need for reform. Because there is a wide range of data from a variety of sources, the statistics can be confusing.

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Why Pensions Are Important

This fact sheet explains the role pensions play in the overall retirement security of American workers, retirees, and their families.

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How many American workers participate in workplace retirement plans?

Annual figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics help paint a picture of the number of Americans who participate in a retirement plan at work. Typically in any year only half of workers participate in a retirement plan at work. In 2018 participation by all civilian workers, full and part-time, was 56 percent. The information below comes from the Bureau of Labor Statist

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Fact Sheets (View All)

How Retirement Plans Can Fix Contribution Mistakes

Employers sometimes make mistakes when they put money into a 401(k), profit sharing plan or other defined contribution plan. If they correct the mistake by making a contribution to the plan, the contribution is called a QNEC or Qualified Non-Elective Employer Contribution.

Here are some examples of a QNEC (pronounced cue-neck).

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FAQ for Butch Lewis Pension Relief Law

The Butch Lewis Emergency Pension Plan Relief Act of 2021 was signed into law on March 11, 2021 as part of the larger American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. This law allows severely underfunded multiemployer plans to apply for aid from PBGC so that retirees benefits are not cut. You can read our summary of the legislation here.

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What the Butch Lewis Act Will and Will Not Do

On March 11, 2021, as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, President Biden signed the Butch Lewis Emergency Pension Relief Act into law.

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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

‘I’ll be robbed twice in one lifetime’: Retirees fearing financial disaster wait for pension rescue

For Carol Podesta-Smallen, the pain of a broken promise grows worse with time.

The Garfield, N.J., retiree framed her first pension check, along with a picture of herself and her husband. “That was our retirement,” she says, referring to the monthly benefit she earned after 26 years as a clerical worker.

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Did You Know?

In 2017, workers will be able to contribute up to $18,000 to their 401(k) plans. Workers age 50 and older can contribute $24,000. Employers can match those contributions up to a total employer-employee limit of $52,000. Check out our helpful fact sheet to learn the contribution limits for other retirement plans. Read the fact sheet.