SSA Potential Private Retirement Benefit Information Notices
What’s an SSA PPRBI notice?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) might send you a Potential Private Retirement Benefit Information (PPRBI) notice after you apply for social security benefits.
This notice is a reminder that you might be entitled to retirement benefits from a private employer if you left employment without taking your retirement benefits.
The information in the notice was provided by your employer when you left employment. This means that the information might be out-of-date. It’s possible that the retirement benefit was already paid out long ago.
The notice should include the name of the employer plan; the identification number for the employer and a plan number; contact information for the plan administrator; and other details about the potential benefits. However, the notice you receive might be missing some of this information.
Here’s an example from the SSA of what the notice should look like.
Why did I get a PPRBI notice?
You received a PPRBI notice because you or your beneficiary applied for Social Security benefits and a former employer reported that you left employment without taking your retirement benefits.
These potential benefits come from private employers, not the SSA.
This notice doesn’t guarantee that you’re owed benefits—it just means that you might be eligible. You might have already received the benefits as a lump sum. You might even be currently receiving the benefit in monthly payments.
What should I do next?
Take some time to look over the information in the notice. When you’re ready, contact the plan administrator for the plan. If you can’t locate the plan administrator, contact your former employer. They can help you find out if you’re eligible for retirement benefits.
You might learn that the contact information for the plan administrator and employer listed in your notice isn’t correct. If this happens, don’t worry!
Each year, private employer retirement plans have to send reports to the Department of Labor (DOL) that include information about the plan, the employer and the plan administrator. These reports are called Form 5500s. You can use the DOL’s website to find the latest Form 5500s filed by your plan. These forms should have contact information for your plan administrator and employer. You can also search freeerisa.com (free registration is required). It can be helpful to try both searches for the most recent information.
What if I still can’t find my plan?
It can be hard to track down retirement benefits from former employers. Companies might have relocated, merged with another business, or closed completely. The Pension Rights Center has resources that can help you navigate the process of finding a lost retirement plan.
If you’ve searched for a former employer or plan administrator with no luck, you can contact a Department of Labor Benefits Advisor at 1-866-444-3272 or submit a question on the EBSA website.
Want to learn more about SSA Potential Private Retirement Benefit Notices?
Department of Labor: FAQs on SSA Potential Private Retirement Benefit Information
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation: Social Security Administration Potential Private Pension Benefit Information notice
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