How to investigate a retirement benefit plan.  (Updated Sep 1, 2025)

If you know someone dealing with possible layoff, considering retirement, or has recently left, send them this link. Practical advice from HP and HPE alumni who have gone through past cycles: https://www.hpalumni.org/leaving (Public website. No password required.)

This page is one of the links on HPAA's Retirement Plan Menu -- which includes "How to investigate a retirement benefit plan" and "Lump-sum or pension?"

(Oct 7, 2023)  From the independent association for former employees of HP and HPE -- and those in the process of leaving. Click to join the HPAA   Question? Email us: info@hpalumni.org

Follow these steps...

Step 1. Received a "Potential Private Retirement Benefit" letter from U.S. Social Security?

It shows your last transaction ("Year Reported.") Look up the "Type of Benefit" and "Payment Frequency" codes on the back. Who to contact: Potential Private Retirement Benefit

Step 2. Check for lost property.

For example, one member found an HP-related check that had been mailed to a misspelled street address with an incorrect zip code.

Keep your postal address current on every financial account. And run an "unclaimed property" search every year. Employer does not update your address. Financial institutions are required to turn over inactive accounts to the state. Neither cashing dividend checks, receiving direct deposits, accessing accounts online, nor receiving statements prevents this – only a personally-initiated transaction, postal response, or call. Difficult to retrieve funds – and stock is sold. Easy to check: Unclaimed Property

Step 3. Determine which company is currently responsible for the benefit.

Hewlett-Packard breakup. On Nov 1, 2015, the legal name of the Hewlett-Packard Company was changed to HP Inc. ("hp" logo, HPQ stock symbol) and a new, completely separate company – Hewlett Packard Enterprise (no hyphen, singular, "HPE" logo and stock symbol) – was spun off. Portions of HPE were later spun off into DXC and Micro Focus: HP Breakup 

HP Inc is the overall legal successor to Hewlett-Packard and to companies acquired by Hewlett-Packard before Nov 1, 2015 – such as Compaq, DEC, EDS, Tandem, etc. -- regardless of whether a business unit ended up in HP Inc or HPE. For employees of HP -- and predecessor companies -- who left before the HPInc/HPE separation, responsibility for any health or retirement benefits varies from country to country. For the US, HP Inc has responsibility. For Canada and UK, HPE has responsibility. In many countries, plans were split between HP Inc and HPE. See: Where are my benefits?

If the currently responsible company isn't clear. Due to acquisitions and spinoffs, this may not be obvious. Check here: Which Company

Advice if you worked for certain predecessor companies:

- Compaq. If employed by Compaq prior to May 3, 2005 -- Compaq 401(k) plan. Compaq

- DEC. If employed by DEC prior to Mar 1, 1996 -- you may have a benefit under the HP Cash Account Pension Plan. DEC

- EDS. If employed by EDS or "EDS, an HP Company" prior to Jan 1, 2009 -- you may have an EDS pension, which has been merged with an HPInc pension plan. EDS Pension

Info for those who worked at:  Agilent  Autonomy  Compaq  DEC  DXC  EDS  HP  HPE  Juniper  Keysight  Micro Focus  Perspecta  Poly  Tandem  Other acquisitions and spinoffs  

Other predecessor companies   Other acquisitions and spinoffs

Step 4. Contact the current administrator for the plan in question.

a. If you have an existing retirement, 401(k), or personal brokerage account at Fidelity, go to http://netbenefits.com and use your existing username and password. Otherwise, call Fidelity 1-800-457-4015 (If no password, keep hitting #.) (Outside US 1-508-787-9902 collect.) Fidelity (Don't go to a local Fidelity office, which is focused on sales.)  

b. Primary retirement plan contacts:

The HP Inc Retirement Service Center is the primary administrator for HP Inc U.S. pension and 401(k) accounts, including any accounts for companies that Hewlett-Packard acquired before Nov 1, 2015 (Compaq, DEC, EDS, etc.) Operated by Fidelity Investments. 1-800-457-4015 (If no password, keep hitting #.) (Outside US 1-508-787-9902 collect.) https://nb.fidelity.com (Don't go to a local Fidelity office, which is focused on sales.)

The HPE (Hewlett Packard Enterprise) Retirement Service Center is the primary administrator for Hewlett Packard Enterprise U.S. pension and 401(k) accounts, including any accounts for companies that HPE acquired since Nov 1, 2015 (Cray, Juniper, Nimble, etc.) Operated by Fidelity Investments. 1-800-409-4015 (If no password, keep hitting #.) (Outside US 1-508-787-9902 collect.)  https://nb.fidelity.com (Don't go to a local Fidelity office, which is focused on sales.)

c. HSA (Health Savings Account): Contact the appropriate Benefits Center: https://www.hpalumni.org/contacts

d. Deferred compensation:  In addition to using the contact points above, also run an "unclaimed property" search. Unclaimed Property

e. Stock. If you were ever an HP shareholder, you may now have shares of HPQ, HPE, Keysight, and/or Agilent – in different accounts. If ever an HPE shareholder, you may now have shares of DXC – and may not have received cash payouts for MFGP and PRSP. Find it all – and estimate your current cost basis: HP/HPE-Related Stocks

f. Surviving spouse provisions -- and other details on the terms of the various HP and HPE plans -- go to: HP and HPE Retirement Plans   Legacy HP Retirement Plans

Step 5. If the current administrator cannot help, contact the appropriate Corporate Headquarters.

The "Plan Administrator" mailing address on a Social Security notice or a plan document is often no longer valid.

Assume that any addresses given in an SPD are extinct. (Hanover Street, Compaq Center, Pruneridge Ave, America Center Drive, Legacy Drive, Forest Lane, Maynard, etc.) Use the current corporate headquarters address instead.

Current corporate headquarters locations for HP and HPE -- phone and postal addresses: Contacts

7. References.

US Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration (ESBA):
"FAQs on SSA Potential Private Retirement Benefit Information" 
https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/EBSA/about-ebsa/our-activities/resource-center/faqs/ssa-potential-private-benefit-information-notice.pdf
ESBA Assistance Page
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ebsa/about-ebsa/ask-a-question/ask-ebsa

U.S. Government Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation:
"Tips for Finding a Lost Pension Benefit"
https://www.pbgc.gov/wr/tips-for-finding-a-lost-pension-benefit
"Finding a Lost Pension"
https://www.pbgc.gov/Documents/finding-a-lost-pension.pdf

Pension Rights Center -- non-profit:
Advice on tracing lost pension plans.
http://www.pensionrights.org/blog/legislation-offers-hope-finding-lost-pensions
"Roadmap to retirement: Switching jobs or retiring"
http://www.pensionrights.org/roadmap-retirement-when-you-leave-job-or-retire

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