Legal Question in Employment Law in Massachusetts
Pension
I worked for a company from 1963 to 1973. The company was bought out by a German company. Should I be entitled to a pension? I don't have any paperwork other than some W-2's showing that I worked there. I have a call into the company who said that I am not on their list to receive a pension. How can I make sure that I am not entitled to one?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Pension
ERISA the pension law did not go into effect until 1976 and you may not be entitled to a pension. Therefore, when you left in 1973 you may have (and probably did) lost any rights to a pension if it had not vested. Apart from contacting the company all you can do is check with the Department of Labor and the PBGC with respect to the Pension Plan.
You can request your payroll records and pension records for the time and formally ask if your benefits had been forfeited or vested when you left.
Good Luck