by Sandra Wisnewski, J.D., Director of the Mid-America Pension Rights Project

The Mid-America Pension Rights Project (MAPRP) assists clients with pension and 401(k) issues.  There are no age or income restrictions and there is never a charge for the services.  The MAPRP works to find answers and solutions to your pension-related problem.  Just ask Mr. M.

Mr. M worked in a Zinc mine for nine years.  The mine had been sold and bought several times throughout Mr. M’s employment, but he remained in the same mine doing the same job.  At the time, the Plan required ten years of employment to vest in the pension. When Mr. M retired, he was given a monthly benefit to reflect the time he worked for the last company that purchased the mine.  When he called the MAPRP Mr. M. was receiving a monthly pension benefit of $10.00.

After much research, the MAPRP determined that the current plan was responsible for not only the time they owned the mine, but for the previous years Mr. M worked.  The MAPRP filed a claim for benefits letter on Mr. M’s behalf.  The claim was denied so the MAPRP filed an appeal, citing the appropriate law.

A couple of months later Mr. M received a letter from the Plan indicating that his monthly benefit would be increased to $102.00 and he received over $13,000.00 in a retroactive payment.  Mr. M and his family were grateful for the work the MAPRP did.

The Mid-America Pension Rights Project is funded by the Federal government through a grant provided by the Administration for Community Living, and is a program of Elder Law of Michigan, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit.

Since the program began in 1998, MAPRP has assisted over 12,000 clients and has recovered over 56 million dollars in pension benefits. MAPRP assists clients that either worked in or are currently living in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. For more information, visit www.mid-americapensions.org.

If you need help with or information about your pension or 401(k) benefit, please call the Mid-America Pension Rights Project at 866.735.7737 to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced attorneys.