- 401k Retirement Plan Benefits - Find and Claim Missing 401(k)Pension Benefits

The Dept. of Labor estimates each year tens of thousands of workers fail to claim or rollover $850 million in 401k retirement plan assets. A disproportionate share of the missing are former employees of failed companies, which, when they cease operations, may not provide or plan for administration of employee 401(k) plan assets. Another problem: family members of deceased employees often fail to claim defined contribution pension plan benefits stemming from employment that may have ended years earlier.

Participants in defined-contribution retirement plans such as the 401(k) are protected when their employers fail or otherwise cease operations, because they actually own the assets in their accounts.

This differs from employees with traditional (defined benefit) pension plans, which are subject to the solvency of the employer but may be protected against loss by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, the federal agency responsible for the regulation of private pension plans. ( For assistance with a traditional pension, go to Unclaimed Pension Search. For assistance with a lost IRA, go to: Unclaimed IRA Search.)

Retirement funds invested in 401k and other defined-contribution retirement plans belong to the employee, not the employer, so 401k plan participants are protected when an employer files for bankruptcy or otherwise ceases business. Because plan assets continue to earn interest and accumulate potential capital gains, amounts that can be reclaimed may be quite substantial.

The financial institutions holding unclaimed 401K assets - banks and brokerages appointed by the plan administrator - make little if any effort to locate lost employees and missing participants, because by law their responsibility is to the company, not the employee.

If you have reason to believe you are entitled to claim a missing 401 k, either as the employee, spouse or rightful heir, but have had no contact with the company or plan administrator and have not received payment, complete the form below to initiate a search.

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	Unclaimed Assets: Money The Government Owes You!
	Employee Benefits Security Administration - 401(k) Plans

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401k Search - Find and Claim 401(K) Retirement Plan Benefits