Check out your old W-2 tax forms; the forms will list the employer you had a retirement plan with that year. Use the information on your old W-2 to contact your plan sponsor, or old employer, directly to get your account information.
The formal plan name, plan number and plan year must also be included in the employee welfare benefit plan's Summary Plan Description (SPD). Each employee welfare benefit plan must have a primary name. If a plan has a secondary name that it is often referenced by, that information must also be included in the SPD.
Go to the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) website and try to locate the company's Form 5500 (the plan's required tax filing). The Form 5500 should have the plan administrator's contact information. Then you can contact the responsible party directly and ask about your retirement account.
The National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits is a good place to start. By entering your Social Security number, you can quickly see if there are any unclaimed 401(k) funds that belong to you.
Accounts Covered by ERISA Common types of employer-sponsored retirement accounts that fall under ERISA include 401(k) plans, pensions, deferred-compensation plans, and profit-sharing plans. ERISA does not cover retirement plans set up and administered by government entities and churches, such as many 403(b) plans.
Check Your Plan Documents: Review your Summary Plan Description (SPD) or other documents. ERISA plans must provide an SPD that clearly states they are an ERISA plan. Look at Employer Contributions: If your employer contributes to the plan or matches your contributions, it's likely an ERISA plan.
How to Locate a 401(k) From a Previous Job Contact previous employers. It may seem obvious, but one of the quickest ways to track down an old 401(k) plan is to go directly to the source. Review past W-2 tax forms. Check your mail. Search the National Registry. Search Form 5500 Directory. State unclaimed property.
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) is a federal law that sets minimum standards for most voluntarily established retirement and health plans in private industry to provide protection for individuals in these plans.
Plans must meet minimum ERISA requirements The Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration currently oversees ERISA. Your retirement plan administrator should be able to tell you whether or not your retirement plan qualifies for ERISA.
Your IRS/ERISA Plan Number can be found in your Summary Plan Description in section.