Employer-sponsored defined benefit pension plans (DBPP) face unprecedented challenges in the midst of significant changes in our nation's retirement landscape. Many DBPP & the fed. agency that insures them, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (PBGC), have accumulated large & growing deficits that threaten their survival. Meanwhile, the percentage of Amer. workers covered by DBPP has been declining for 30 years, reflecting a movement toward defined contribution plans (e.g., 401(k) plans). To address these issues, a diverse group of knowledgeable individuals was convened -- incl. gov't. officials, researchers, accounting experts, actuaries, plan sponsor & employee group rep., & members of the investment community. Charts & tables.
The PBGC insures the benefits of 43 million participants from default of their employer-sponsored defined benefit pension plans. To carry out its work, PBGC relies heavily on the services of contractors whose headquarters & field employees account for almost half of the workforce involved in processing PBGC's workloads. This report: (1) determines the basis for PBGC's decisions regarding the use of contractors versus government personnel to address its workloads; (2) assesses PBGC's processes & procedures for selecting contractors; & (3) determines how effective PBGC has been in monitoring the performance of its contractors. Tables.
Millions of people rely on the services of Social Security Admin. (SSA) field offices (FO). In FY 2008, SSA's 1,300 FO provided service to 44 million customers. People visit FO to apply for Social Security cards, apply for retirement and disability benefits, establish direct deposit, and other services. Over the last several years, staffing reductions have challenged FO ability to manage work while continuing to deliver quality customer service. To better understand the challenges SSA faces in delivering quality customer service, this report determined: (1) the effect that staffing reductions are having on FO operations; and (2) the challenges SSA faces in meeting service delivery needs in the future and the agency's plan for addressing them. Illustrations.
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (PBGC) insures the pension benefits of 44 million private sector workers and retirees in over 30,000 employer-sponsored pension plans. It was reported that PBGC¿s governance structure needed improvements. Congress is considering expanding the board of dir. to include additional members. It was also recommended that the board develop policies and mechanisms consistent with corp. governance practices, and develop formal guidelines to clarify the roles and respon. of the board chair, members, and their rep. This report addresses: the steps PBGC has taken to improve policy direction and oversight; and (2) how Congress applies oversight to PBGC and what other oversight mechanisms exist for gov¿t. corps. Illus.
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (PBGC) insures the retirement future of nearly 44 million people in more than 30,000 private-sector defined benefit pension plans. In July 2003, PBGC¿s single-employer pension insurance program was designated as ¿high risk,¿ meaning that it needed urgent attention and transformation. The program remains on the list today with a projected financial deficit of over $13 billion, as of Sept. 2007. Because Congress exercises oversight of PBGC, the author was asked to testify on: (1) the critical role PBGC plays in protecting the pension benefits of workers and how PBGC is funded; (2) the financial challenges facing PBGC; and (3) the PBGC¿s governance, oversight and management challenges. Tables.
Under the single-employer insur. program, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (PBGC) may become the trustee of underfunded plans that are terminated and assume responsibility for paying benefits to participants as they become due, up to certain legal limits. From its inception in 1974 through the end of FY 2008, PBGC has terminated and trusteed 3,860 single-employer plans covering 1.2 million workers and retirees. Since 2008, the economic downturn has brought a new influx of pension plan terminations. This testimony describes: (1) PBGC's process for determining the amount of benefits to be paid; and (2) PBGC's recoupment process when the estimated benefit provided is too high and a retiree receives an overpayment that must be repaid.
Thirty years ago Congress enacted protections to ensure that participants in multiemployer pension plans received their promised benefits. These defined benefit plans are created by collective bargaining agree. covering more than one employer. Today, these plans provide pension coverage to over 10.4 million participants in approx. 1,500 multiemployer plans insured by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (PBGC). This report examines: (1) the current status of nation's multiemployer plans; (2) steps PBGC takes to monitor the health of these plans; (3) the structure of multiemployer plans in other countries; and (4) statutory and regulatory changes that could help plans provide participants with the benefits they are due. Illus. This is a print on demand report.
The dramatic decline in the stock market has diminished pension savings and reportedly led to low levels in older Americans¿ confidence in their ability to retire. Even before the current economic recession, research indicated that pension benefits are likely to be inadequate for many Americans. This report addresses the following questions: (1) What are key risks faced by U.S. workers in accumulating and preserving pension benefits? (2) What approaches are used in other countries that could address these risks and what trade-offs do they present? (3) What approaches do key proposals for alternative plan designs in the U.S. suggest to mitigate risks faced by workers and what trade-offs do they entail? Charts and tables.
Many U.S. workers receive health & pension benefits from employers, & the cost of these benefits represents a growing share of workers¿ total compensation. Employers have made changes to control these rising costs, contending that these changes will allow them to remain competitive in an increasingly global market. This report examines the practices employers are using to control the costs of benefits. To evaluate changing employer benefit practices & their implications, the author examined: (1) current & emerging practices employers are using to control the costs of health care benefits, & retirement benefits; & (2) employers¿ workforce restructuring changes. Charts & tables.
Private defined benefit (DB) pension plans are an important source of retirement income for millions of Americans. However, from 1990 to 2006, plan sponsors have voluntarily terminated over 61,000 sufficiently funded single-employer DB plans. An event preceding at least some of these terminations was a so-called plan ¿freeze¿ -- an amendment to the plan to limit some or all future pension accruals for some or all plan participants. This report examines: (1) the extent to which DB pension plans are frozen and the characteristics of frozen plans; and (2) the implications of these freezes for plan participants, plan sponsors, and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (PBGC). Charts and tables.
Each day thousands of people contact the Soc. Sec. Admin. (SSA) to file claims, update records, & request info. from its field offices, website, & nat. toll-free 800 no. Implemented in 1989, SSA's 800-no. has become a principal contact point for millions of individuals seeking agency services. This report reviewed the quality of SSA's 800 no. in terms of caller access & agent accuracy of response & courtesy. SSA should take steps to: increase callers' access to agent services; determine why agents fail to comply with SSA require. when handling calls; & establish uniform procedures for documenting & assessing customers' agent-related complaints. Also includes testimony of Barbara Bovbjerg, Educ., GAO, before the NY State Assembly.
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (PBGC) insures the pensions of more than 44 million workers in over 30,000 employer-sponsored defined benefit pension plans. In response to growing workloads, PBGC has come to rely heavily on contractors to conduct its work. This is a report on: (1) the role that contracting plays in PBGC¿s efforts to accomplish its mission; (2) the steps PBGC has taken to improve its acquisition infrastructure and develop a strategic approach to guide its contracting activities; and (3) the steps PBGC has taken to improve its contact oversight processes to ensure accountability. Includes recommendations. Charts and tables.
Provides information about the basic features of the private pension plan system & the federal framework that governs how private plans must operate. This private pensions primer includes questions & answers about the types of plans that private employers may sponsor, the benefits these plans provide, & the basic requirements that govern how these plans are administered. The answers are intended to be clear, concise, & easy-to-understand. Although the primer summarizes & explains some of the fundamental aspects of private pension plans, the material does not provide a complete technical interpretation regarding the many complexities of these plans or all of the rules & requirements that govern these plans. Charts & tables.
The Social Security Admin. (SSA) has issued more than 430 million Social Security numbers (SSN) & cards since the program began in 1935, of which an estimated 300 million belong to living number holders. SSNs have a key role in verifying individuals' authorization to work in the U.S., but SSN cards are also vulnerable to theft & counterfeiting. Concerns about unauthorized workers & the use of counterfeit documents led to this report which: (1) reviews SSA's progress to safeguard the SSN & enhance the card as required under the Intelligence Act; (2) identify key issues to be considered before enhancing the card; & (3) outline the range of options available to SSA for enhancing the card. Includes recommendations. Charts & tables.
Under federal regulations, 401(k) participants may tap into their accrued retirement savings before retirement under certain circumstances, including hardship. This "leakage" from 401(k) accounts can result in a permanent loss of retirement savings. This report analyzes: (1) the incidence, amount, and relative significance of the different forms of 401(k) leakage; (2) how plans inform participants about hardship withdrawal provisions, loan provisions, and options at job separation, including the short- and long-term costs of each; and (3) how various policies may affect the incidence of leakage. To address these matters, the report analyzed federal and 401(k) industry data and interviewed federal officials, pension experts, and plan administrators. Illus.
The number of private defined benefit (DB) pension plans, an important source of retirement income for millions of Americans, has declined substantially over the past two decades. Although this decline has been concentrated among smaller plans, there is a concern that large DB plans covering many participants have modified, reduced, or otherwise frozen plan benefits in recent years. This report examines: (1) what changes employers have made to their pension and benefit offerings, including to their DB contribution plans and health offerings over the last 10 years or so; and (2) what changes employers might make with respect to their pensions in the future, and how these changes might be influenced by changes in pension law and other factors. Illus.
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (PBGC) employs 800 fed. employees and uses 1,500 private sector employees to insure the pensions of millions of private sector workers and retirees in certain employer-sponsored pension plans. In recent years, PBGC¿s projected financial liabilities and workloads have increased greatly due to a large no. of pension plan terminations. Given this, it is important that PBGC remain well positioned to fulfill its promise to those retirees who depend on it. This is a report on: PBGC¿s recent experience in hiring and retaining key staff and how it compared to other fed. agencies; and the actions PBGC has taken to hire and retain key staff and what additional steps, if any, can be taken. Includes recommend. Illustrations.
Some U.S. financial and pension consulting firms have recently proposed alternatives to terminating a defined benefit (DB) pension plan and contracting with an insur. co. to pay promised benefits. In their proposals, a plan sponsor would transfer the assets and liabilities of a hard-frozen DB plan along with additional money to a financial entity, which would become the new sponsor. This report addresses the following questions: (1) What is the basic model of proposed sales of frozen DB plans to third-party financial firms and how does it compare with a standard plan termination? (2) What are the potential risks and benefits of plan buyouts for participants, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (PBGC), plan sponsors, and other stakeholders?
The Social Sec. (SS) Statement is the Social Sec. Admin. (SSA) main document for communicating with workers about their SS benefits. It shows an individual's annual earnings, payments into SS & Medicare, & projected benefits. The SSA also uses the statement to explain the various types of SS benefits & to encourage greater financial planning for retirement. This report examines: how well recipients understand the current statement; how the SSA is evaluating the statement's understandability; & the promising practices used by private sector co. & other industrial countries. This info. was obtained from a nat. survey & focus groups of statement recipients, officials from 3 countries (Canada, Sweden, & the UK), & other experts. Charts & tables.
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