The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) protects the retirement incomes of about 31 million American workers in private sector defined benefit pension plans. A defined benefit plan provides a specified monthly benefit at retirement, often based on a combination of salary and years of service. PBGC was created by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to encourage the continuation and maintenance of private-sector defined benefit pension plans, provide timely and uninterrupted payment of pension benefits, and keep pension insurance premiums at a minimum.
PBGC's Board of Directors consists of the Secretaries of Labor (Chair), Commerce, and the Treasury.
In accordance with its Customer Service Plan, PBGC serves a range of customers with disparate interests and expectations. Go to the Customer Service page to view the plan and more information.
First are the more than 1.5 million people to whom the agency pays or owes pension benefits, whether directly or through financial assistance to multiemployer plans. These participants in private-sector plans now administered by PBGC depend on PBGC for their retirement security and expect quick, accurate benefit determinations and prompt, uninterrupted benefit payments.
PBGC's customers also include the companies with PBGC-insured plans and the pension professionals who assist them. These practitioners and plan administrators expect PBGC to promptly and accurately process their premium payments, dispense reliable advice and rulings, and resolve issues affecting their plans quickly and responsively. Practitioners include plan sponsors and pension professionals such as lawyers, accountants, and actuarial consultants.
PBGC also serves a range of customers interested in retirement planning and pension plans, such as:
- Congress
- Federal Agencies and State Government
- General Public
- Media
- PBGC Employees and Contractors