How to investigate a retirement benefit plan.

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.)

(Oct 7, 2023)  From the independent association for former employees of HP and HPE -- and those in the process of leaving. Question? Email: 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.

Every few years, it is a good idea run an "unclaimed property" search. Companies -- including financial institutions -- are required to turn over unclaimed property to the state after a specific time period, which varies from state to state, as little as two years in some states. Easy to do: https://www.hpalumni.org/Unclaimed

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

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

HP Inc. is the legal successor to companies acquired by Hewlett-Packard (Compaq, DEC, EDS, Tandem, etc.) before the company was split into HP Inc and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) on Nov 1, 2015. For employees of HP -- and predecessor companies -- who left before the split, responsibility for any health or retirement benefits varies from country to country. For the US, HPInc has responsibility. For Canada and UK, HPE has responsibility. In many countries, plans were split between HPInc and HPE. See: Country-by-country details

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. EDS Pension

Info for those who worked at:  Agilent    Autonomy    Compaq    DEC    DXC    EDS    HP    HPE    Keysight    Micro Focus    Perspecta    Tandem   

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.)  

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.)

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.)

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. https://www.hpalumni.org/Unclaimed

e. Stock: You may now have stock in HP, HPE, Agilent, Keysight, or DXC in various accounts -- and may have missed cash payouts (two for MFGP; one for PRSP.) How many shares of which companies should I have? How much cash should I have received? Stock Recovery Process

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, Pruneridge Ave, America Center Drive, Legacy Drive, etc.) Use the current corporate headquarters address instead.

Current corporate headquarters locations for HP and HPE -- phone and postal addresses: https://www.hpalumni.org/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

(Nov 26, 2024)

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