Sorry to hear that your pensions were lost. Are you aware that private pensions are generally guaranteed by an agency of the Federal Government?
"The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is an independent agency of the United States government that was created by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to encourage the continuation and maintenance of voluntary private defined benefit pension plans, provide timely and uninterrupted payment of pension benefits, and keep pension insurance premiums at the lowest level necessary to carry out its operations. Subject to other statutory limitations, the PBGC insurance program pays pension benefits up to the maximum guaranteed benefit set by law to participants who retire at age 65 ($54,000 a year as of 2011).[2] The benefits payable to insured retirees who start their benefits at ages other than 65, or who elect survivor coverage, are adjusted to be equivalent in value."
Have you checked to see if your "lost" pensions are guaranteed by the PBGC? A close relative had his pension program cancelled when his employer went bankrupt but he now gets his monthly check from the PBGC.
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