Pension Action Center Gerontology Institute 
The Pension Action Center has:
  • Helped over 7,800 workers and retirees 
  • Recovered more than $51 million in benefits
In This Issue
Staff Attorney Provided Advice on Effectively Communicating with Workers about Pension Options
On May 27th, Staff Attorney Emily G. Brown testified before the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) Advisory Council of the Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. The council is working closely with the Department of Labor to formulate ways to help increase employee participation in ERISA-sponsored pension plans. Attorney Brown provided the council with insight into the participants' perspective to help the Council with its recommendations. Her testimony focused on the content, timing, and dissemination of possible model notices that would be distributed to employees to encourage pension participation.

Attorney Brown's legal experience working with clients of the New England Pension Assistance Project and the Illinois Pension Assistance Project has given her unique expertise in the pension issues that workers and retirees face, making her testimony incredibly valuable. 
 
b$13,500 in Retroactive Pension Benefits Recovered for Illinois Man

"Staff Attorney Emily Brown's work on my behalf was the indispensable factor in reversing a prior denial of my pension appeal. Professional and courteous throughout, the Illinois Pension Assistance Project is providing an outstandingly good and needed service in defending individual pension rights. Thank you." 

A 69-year old man from Illinois contacted the Pension Action Center when he was denied three years of retroactive pension payments. Attorney Brown successfully argued that the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) prohibited the forfeiture of the client's retroactive benefits, since this federal law states that vested pension benefits are "non-forfeitable."
 
cNew Investor Education Fact Sheets

Learn More About Investing for Retirement 

Hardship Withdrawals and Loans: Some Words of Caution  

It is typically an option to take hardship withdrawals and loans from 401(k) accounts before you retire or leave your company. However, it might have a long-term impact on your retirement security.  

 

Your Former Employer's 401(k) Plan  

When you leave your job, you may be able to leave your 401(k) money in your former employer's plan. Other options may be an immediate or a deferred rollover to your new employer's plan, transferring the funds to an IRA, or withdrawing the money  

 

Finding a Financial Planner   

If you have questions about saving for your retirement or are unsure about how to plan and execute your retirement goals, hiring a financial planner might be a good option for you. However, make sure you do your homework first!   

 
The center's investor education program was made possible thanks to a grant from the Investor Protection Trust.
 
dFormer Volunteer Honored

Renee Summers Granted Community Service Award 

On May 21, Renee Summers, a former volunteer pension counselor for the New England Pension Assistance Project (NEPAP), received the Community Service Award from UMass Boston's Gerontology Alumni Association. This award honors Ms. Summers' tireless efforts volunteering her time to enhance the lives of older adults. This includes the 17 years she spent volunteering for the Pension Action Center, helping retirees obtain their hard-earned pension benefits.
eComings and Goings
Staff Changes at the Pension Action Center
The center welcomed two new legal interns last month, Tyler Compton, a Boston College Law School student, and Tania Mendez, a Suffolk Law School student. Though the center typically employs only one legal intern at a time, having both of these talented interns working for the center will enhance its ability to provide high quality assistance to its clients.  They replace Kevin Medeiros, who both completed his internship with the center and successfully graduated from Suffolk Law School!

Michele Tolson, the center's program coordinator, will be leaving the center this month to pursue her research interests. She just completed her first year studying for a PhD in public policy at UMass Boston's McCormack Graduate School and also works as a research assistant for the Department of Public Policy and Public Affairs.

Pension Action Center's Work Highlighted in Local and National Media 

gYou Can Make A Difference in the Lives of Retirees - Donate Today

The center's cases are managed by four pension counselors and two attorneys. Our staff, although small, works tirelessly for weeks, even years, to obtain pension benefits for our clients. In fact, for every dollar that we have received of federal, state, and foundation support, we have recovered $14 in pension benefits for our clients.

 

You can help us to continue making a difference in retirees' lives by donating online today or, to give by mail, please make checks payable to "University of Massachusetts Boston" and send to:  

 

University of Massachusetts Boston 
Gerontology Institute, Pension Action Center 
c/o Louise Cataldo
100 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125-3393

 

We are extremely thankful for the contributions that we receive from supporters like you who make our pension counseling work possible.

 

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