Make sure that the overall legal successor to every company you ever worked for has your current postal address. Even if not classified by the company as a "Retiree" or if long gone – in case of pension plan changes, employment lawsuits, settlements, or other issues. Update address at former company

Keep address current on every financial account. Run easy unclaimed property search every year. Employer does not update your address. Neither cashing dividend checks, receiving direct deposits, online access, nor receiving statements prevents inactive accounts from being turned over to the state – only a personally-initiated transaction, postal response, or call. Difficult to retrieve money; stock is sold. https://www.hpalumni.org/Unclaimed

Key principle: Depends on which company's payroll you were on at the time you left –  regardless of where your last business unit ended up in the Hewlett-Packard breakup . If a business unit was moved to DXC or Micro Focus, it is treated as though you left HPE to join another company.

Complications:

- Enterprise. HP used the word "Enterprise" at various times in the internal names of business segments -- however the people were employees of Hewlett-Packard Company. 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, which was split up, and Micro Focus, which was bought out.

- Labs. HP Labs is part of HP Inc; Hewlett Packard Labs is part of Hewlett Packard Enterprise.

- Classification as "retired."  If an employee left at 55 or older with at least 10 years of service, or left after 2010 with age-plus-years-of-service of at least 80, or left under an early retirement program -- HP and HPE generally classify the employee as "retired" –  regardless of how they left and whether or not they have any retiree benefits. (HPE also mentions "...or age 55 or older with at least 70 age-plus-service 'points' for equity grants.") This is reported to outside payroll and employment verification services, but doesn't seem to have any negative consequences. Inquiries from state Unemployment Dept. claims examiners go to a specific group in HR, which replies via letter. Over the years, members have reported that HP did not block their UI claims. 

- Non-U.S. How to contact HR for a specific country: Worldwide HP and HPE Country Contacts

Specifically:

1. Left the Hewlett-Packard Company before the May 2, 2000 Agilent spinoff and had worked in the HP businesses that became Agilent -- instrument, medical, analytical, component, etc. -- classified as a former employee or retiree of Agilent and sent a notice at that time.  Agilent page  
If worked in the HP or Agilent instrument business, reclassified in the 2014 Keysight spinoff as a former employee or retiree of Keysight and sent a notice at that time.  Keysight page

2. Left the Hewlett-Packard Company before the Nov 1, 2015 Hewlett Packard Enterprise spinoff: Classified as a former employee or retiree of HP Inc. –  regardless of where their last business unit ended up in the Hewlett-Packard breakup. HP contact page  There are two HP retirement programs -- the "Pre-2003 HP Retiree Medical Program" and the current "HP Retiree Medical Program." "2003" refers to the year when HP implemented the program, not your retirement year. HP: "May apply if you retired from HP before 2003, or if you were with HP on December 31, 2002, and retired at a later date with eligibility for the program (this typically meant retiring at age 55 or later with at least 15 years of qualifying service, having at least 62 age-plus-service "points" as of December 31, 2005, and being within five years of qualifying as of June 30, 2007). This program generally does not apply if you joined HP through the Compaq or EDS acquisitions." Details:Pre-2003.

3. Left HP Inc. after the Nov 1, 2015 Hewlett Packard Enterprise spinoff: Classified as a former employee or retiree of HP Inc. HP contact page  There are two HP retirement programs -- the "Pre-2003 HP Retiree Medical Program" and the current "HP Retiree Medical Program." "2003" refers to the year when HP implemented the program, not your retirement year. "May apply if you retired from HP before 2003, or if you were with HP on December 31, 2002, and retired at a later date with eligibility for the program (this typically meant retiring at age 55 or later with at least 15 years of qualifying service, having at least 62 age-plus-service "points" as of December 31, 2005, and being within five years of qualifying as of June 30, 2007). This program generally does not apply if you joined HP through the Compaq or EDS acquisitions." Details: https://www.hpalumni.org/Pre2003

4. Left Hewlett Packard Enterprise after the Nov 1, 2015 Hewlett Packard Enterprise spinoff: Classified as a former employee or retiree of HPE. HPE contact page
Exception: Some HPE retirees are covered by an HP retiree medical program. There are two HP retirement programs -- the "Pre-2003 HP Retiree Medical Program" and the current "HP Retiree Medical Program." "2003" refers to the year when HP implemented the program, not your retirement year. "May apply if you retired from HP before 2003, or if you were with HP on December 31, 2002, and retired at a later date with eligibility for the program (this typically meant retiring at age 55 or later with at least 15 years of qualifying service, having at least 62 age-plus-service "points" as of December 31, 2005, and being within five years of qualifying as of June 30, 2007). This program generally does not apply if you joined HP through the Compaq or EDS acquisitions." Legally retirees of HPE. However, HPE has paid HP Inc to administer health benefits for those HPE retirees. (All other responsibilities for HPE retirees are handled by HPE.) Details: https://www.hpalumni.org/Pre2003

5. Transitioned to DXC or Micro Focus: Classified as a former employee or retiree of Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Treated as though left HPE to join any other company. Entitled to whatever retiree coverage qualified for at the time left HPE -- See item 4 above. HPE contact page    DXC contact page    Micro Focus UK and U.S. Headquarters (scroll down)

6. Left EDS before the Aug 26, 2008 HP acquisition: Classified as a former employee or retiree of HP Inc. HP contact page (Note: If employed by EDS or "EDS, an HP Company" before January 1, 2009 may have an EDS pension, which has been merged with an HPInc pension plan EDS page )

7. Retired from DEC: Classified as a former employee or retiree of HP Inc. HP contact page  Also see DEC page

8. Acquired by Hewlett Packard Enterprise: (Cray, Juniper, Nimble, etc.) Classified as a former employee or retiree of Hewlett Packard Enterprise.

The key document for a US employee retirement or health plan is the legal Summary Plan Description (SPD). It includes plan details and an address at the employer for appeals. The current SPD takes precedence over any other written, online, or verbal information you may have been given -- but is still subject to change. The employer's plan administrator is required by law to provide the SPD upon request. How to obtain and decode: https://www.hpalumni.org/SPD-decode

Death or disability of a former employee. Reporting death or disability of a former employee

Join the HPAA's Benefits Forum. Updates and online forum covering topics such as COBRA and retiree health benefits, annual enrollment, and transition to Medicare.

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