The best kept secret in Michigan—
the Michigan Pension Rights Project!
Kate White
Executive Director
Elder Law of Michigan ,Inc.
Did you know that Michigan has a Pension Rights Project? Not a lot of
people do! Michigan is one of 18 states to have a modestly funded pension
advocacy program, sponsored by the US Administration on Aging through
the Older Americans Act and the Michigan State Bar Foundation. The Pension
Rights Project is operated by Elder Law of Michigan, Inc., (ELM) a 501
c3 non-profit charitable organization. ELM was established in 1990 by
aging advocates and concerned elder law attorneys in the state. Initially
ELM operated one main program, the Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors.
In 1998 the Legal Hotline expanded its work to include pension advocacy
and ELM created the Michigan Pension Rights Project.
The Michigan Pension
Rights Project (MPRP) is designed to assist retirees all over Michigan
with retirement related benefit concerns. Services are offered free
of charge, regardless of income and include consultation over the telephone
with attorneys, brief services, and advocacy. In 2005 it recovered $448,670
for retirees and closed 300 cases. The MPRP has recovered $4 for every
$1 spent on these important efforts and works closely with the National
Pension Rights Center and other pension projects around the country.
“The most rewarding part of working with the pension rights
project is finding and obtaining the pension benefit which our client
or our client’s spouse earned through years of work,” said Christa Schofield,
the Director of the Michigan Pension Rights Project. “Many times the
employer no longer exists due to bankruptcy or merger, and our detective
work locates the deserved benefit and improves our client’s retirement.”
“It is especially gratifying to help widows and others
who are ill equipped to tackle problems that arise in pension issues,”
said Robert Carowitz, Senior Attorney for Elder Law of Michigan, Inc.
How the Pension Project Can Help
You
The Pension Project is a program for retirees and others
seeking free legal help on a pension matter. There are no income eligibility
requirements.
“The Pension Project staff is familiar with the federal
and state law affecting retirement benefits,” Schofield says. “Researching
this area of law may be time-consuming for a general practice attorney,
resulting in expense for the client. All Pension Project services are
provided free of charge.”
Working with the Pension
Benefit Guaranty Corporation, a United States government agency,
the Pension Project would like to contact individuals in the Cheboygan
area that may be entitled to a pension.
David Hahn is one of those individuals. He was an employee
for Mac Gregor Plumbing & Heating, Inc., who’s last known address
was in Levering, MI. Dawn Miller, an employee of Tom Shaw, Inc., who’s
last known address was in Cheboygan, MI also may be eligible for a pension.
If you have any information regarding these missing claimants please
contact the Pension Rights Project.
Tell your friends, colleagues, and neighbors! Most referrals
come from word of mouth or articles in the local news media. You can
help the MPRP reach potential clients and better serve retirees in Michigan
when a problem arises by spreading information about the Pension Project.
See our website at www.mprponline.org.
How it Works
Retirees call the Pension Rights Project toll free at 1-866-735-7737.
A receptionist gathers some basic information such as name, age, telephone,
address, income, race and other demographic information required by
the funders, and sets up a time for an attorney to return the call.
Return calls are usually made the next day; however scheduling varies
depending on call volume, client availability and urgency of the situation.
An attorney discusses the pension or retirement problem with the client
over the telephone. If the case can be resolved with information and
advice, the case is closed. If the client needs additional assistance,
the case is referred to the Pension Rights Project where a team of lawyers,
legal assistants and law students review documents, conduct research,
and contact plan administrators to resolve the cases. The Project also
assists clients with administrative appeals and advocacy at the state
and federal level. We do 99% of our work over the telephone and through
the mail to keep costs low and to prevent our clients from having to
travel to Lansing for assistance. Cases that require full representation
are referred to private attorneys. Options for full, reduced and contingency
fee cases as well as pro bono representation are available from the
private bar.
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