Older Americans Month

The start of May marks the beginning of Older Americans Month, a celebration of the contributions older Americans make to society. Sponsored by the U.S.

Naomi Francisco’s husband worked as an engineer for Monsanto for 35 years and began receiving his pension in 1985. When her husband passed away, the payments suddenly stopped. Wondering why, Naomi contacted Monsanto’s benefit center and was told that her husband had elected a single-life annuity with no survivor benefit.

When Katherine* suddenly became a widow at the age of 52, she contacted her husband’s past employers to inform them of his death.  Among her husband's employers was the public utility of a municipality where he had worked for nearly 10 years.  Katherine knew that her husband had earned a pension while he was employed by the municipality’s public utility so she reported his death to th

There are many details to keep track of when companies are bought or sold, and sometimes a company's pension plan can fall through the cracks. The company Jack* was employed by for more than 20 years was sold and later spun off into an independent entity. Jack had kept track of the company so he knew where to go when it is was time for him to claim his pension.