1. Legal successors and company names. 

Which HP-related companies have me classified as a retiree or former employee? Due to acquisitions and spinoffs, this may not be obvious. Check here: Which Company

Make sure that the 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

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

Other benefits issues for EDS alumni -- including 401(k), stock, HP and HPE retiree benefits, vehicle discounts.

Death or disability of a former employee. Stock, pension, dependent health coverage, and other issues: Member advice

Pension contacts:

- U.S. The HP 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 (Members advise that local Fidelity offices are focused on sales.)

- UK Pension -- HP, DEC, EDS. HP Limited Retirement Benefits Plan, administered by Equiniti. https://hprbp.com  Second Equiniti site: https://edspensions.co.uk

- Former employee contacts for all countries  HPInc Worldwide Former Employee Sites If difficulty: HP Inc Admin Headquarters, 10300 Energy Drive, Spring, TX 77389. (At a Post Office window, you can specify Certified Mail combined with Return Receipt.)

3. EDS pension plans:

The EDS pension plan has survived the sale to GM in 1984, spin-out from GM in 1996, sale to HP, and the split of HP into HP and HPE. One EDS alum said: "Ross is the gift that doesn't stop giving."

If you were employed in the U.S. by EDS or "EDS, an HP Company" before Jan 1, 2009 -- you may have an EDS pension, administered by HP. If you are not collecting on (or did not cash in) an EDS pension, check for an EDS pension account with Fidelity.

"You may have a benefit in the [EDS Retirement] Plan if you were employed by EDS before HP acquired EDS on Aug 26, 2008, or if you joined "EDS, an HP Company" [quotation marks added] between Aug 26, 2008 and December 31, 2008. The plan was closed to new participants on January 1, 2009. Eligibility to earn Pay-Based Credits to Personal Pension Accounts (PPAs) under the Plan ended on December 31, 2008, although Interest Credits continue to accrue on existing PPA accounts"

"Before December 31, 2008, participation was open to full-time and part-time employees who were employed by EDS or an adopting U.S. subsidiary of EDS. Participation began immediately upon being hired into an eligible classification. Effective December 31, 2008, the Plan was closed to new participants.

"Individuals classified by EDS in the following classifications or other similar classifications were not eligible for Plan participation:
- A resident or nonresident alien not subject to U.S. federal income taxation;
- An employee eligible to participate in the EDS Puerto Rico Savings Plan;
- An employee designated and paid as a leased employee, consultant or independent contractor."

--from the HPAA's copy of the Summary Plan Description (SPD)

U.S. The HP 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 (Members advise that local Fidelity offices are focused on sales.)

Key points:

Benefits depend on the choice the employee made. At various times available pension options may have included lump sum, monthly payment, reduced monthly payment with survivor benefit, etc.

The account is growing at 5% per year if you left EDS after July 1, 1998. (HP's own legacy pension plans do not have that feature.)

What if HP goes under? The plan is backed by a trust fund -- and is listed on the federal PBGC website as insured. (Full payout not guaranteed for larger pensions -- $5,812 per month maximum for someone who starts taking pension at 65. See this table:
https://www.pbgc.gov/wr/benefits/guaranteed-benefits/maximum-guarantee )

If employee dies before payments begin, generally payable to surviving spouse or beneficiary. (Details on SPD page 26.)

Key document: "EDS Retirement Plan Summary Plan Description" (the "SPD") Our copy of the SPD is "Updated as of January 2012" Contact Fidelity to determine if there is a newer version.

There are at least two vintages of the EDS plan. Download the SPD from Fidelity that specifically applies to you -- based on when you left EDS.

For example, the "Updated as of January 2012" copy of the SPD does not apply if you left EDS before July 1, 1998. 
It says on page 1: "Benefits for participants who terminated from EDS before July 1, 1998 are subject to separate provisions not described in this SPD. For more information about these benefits, contact the HP Retirement Services Center."
https://www.hpalumni.org/EDSRetirementPlanSPD-HP_Final_2012_HP_EDS_Retirement_Plan_SPD.pdf 

If you left EDS on or after July 1, 1998 -- and have not cashed out or started taking the pension -- the account has been and will continue to grow at 5% per year. "Personal Pension Accounts ...continue to receive Interest Credits, even after ceasing to earn Pay-Based Credits. Your PPA is credited with Interest Credits at a predetermined rate that’s adjusted annually each January 1 subject to a minimum rate of 5% per year. Interest Credits continue to accumulate until your PPA is paid to you or converted to an annuity at retirement." [Page 9 of the Summary Plan Description.]

HP lump-sum payout offers. HP made several lump-sum payout offers to specific segments of EDS retirees over the years:

- 2016: A pension buyout offer was made to those with a "lump-sum present value of your accrued benefit as of Aug 1, 2016" between $5K to $100K. 2016 Pension Lump-Sum Offer

- 2019: EDS folks with small pensions were offered lump-sum payouts -- apparently to reduce admin costs. "At the present time... the Plan does not allow lump-sum distributions for amounts over $5,000. We don’t speculate if that policy will change. However, if Plan provisions do change to allow lump sums over $5000, affected participants will be notified via mail." --email in response to inquiry from an EDS alum, April 19, 2019. 

- 2020: A lump-sum pension buyout offer was made to some who have legacy DEC and EDS pension plans. Deadline was July 15, 2020; extended to July 22, 2020. Details: 2020 Pension Lump-Sum Offer

EDS Early Retirement Offer. From the  2007 EDS Annual Report:

- 2007: "We increased the number of employees in Best Shore locations from approximately 32,000 persons at the end of 2006 to approximately 41,000 at the end of 2007... Our 2007 initiatives to increase capabilities in Best Shore locations included the transfer of certain internal administrative functions... We expect to significantly increase our overall investment in workforce alignment in 2008 compared to 2007. During the third quarter of 2007, we announced an early retirement offer ("ERO") for approximately 12,000 U.S. employees. Approximately 2,400 employees accepted the ERO. Employees accepting the offer will receive enhanced retirement benefits payable through normal payment options under the EDS Retirement Plan."

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