Explaining the Law and Providing Self-Help Information for Low-Income Iowans
There are 36 resources
Page 1 of 2
Divorce and Qualified Domestic Relations Orders
A Spouse's Rights to Pensions in a Divorce
A pension earned during a marriage is considered a joint asset of the couple. During a divorce, special actions must be taken to divide this joint asset.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Divorce Orders
(Separate Website)
This resource general information to attorneys and other pension professionals on qualified domestic relations orders (QDROs) submitted to PBGC after PBGC trustees set up a plan.
QDROs: The Division of Pensions Through Qualified Domestic Relations Orders
(Separate Website)
Whether and how to divide a participant's interest in a pension plan are often important considerations in separation, divorce, and other domestic relations proceedings.
Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement
(Separate Website)
Fact Sheets and Publications on divorce and pension issues.
Benefits Link
(Separate Website)
General resources for pension and benefit issues
Department of Labor Pension Publications for Consumers
(Separate Website)
This page contains links to a number of relevant publications on pensions rights and issues.
Employee Benefit Research Institute
(Separate Website)
This website provides objective research and educational materials about retirement, pensions and benefit programs.
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Fact Sheets
(Separate Website)
This page contains links to a number of relevant fact sheets on pensions rights and issues.
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Pension Publications
(Separate Website)
This page contains links to a number of relevant publications on pensions rights and issues.
Pension Rights Center
(Separate Website)
The National Pension Assistance Resource Center is working to create a nationwide network of counseling and information services to ensure that everyone with a pension or retirement savings question or problem will have a place to go for help.
Pensions, Mergers and Buyouts
With mergers like that of Maytag and Whirlpool, many employees and retirees of Iowa companies are wondering what can happen to their defined benefit plans.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Protecting Your 401(K) Plan
The value of your 401(K) plan at retirement depends on the amount of contributions and how your investments perform. If the company does not make the contributions or if investment performance is poor, you could end up with less than you contributed.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Protecting Your Defined Benefit Plan
Several major company pensions have recently failed or have serious funding problems. Employees thus need to be more aware of the strength and security of their retirement plans.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Survivor Benefits
In many cases, surviving spouses can continue to get pension benefits after the "participant" spouse (the one with the pension) dies.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
CSRS and FERS
(Separate Website)
Link to the federal CSRS FERS Handbook for Personnel and Payroll Offices. This handbook includes rules for calculating and administering federal civil service pensions
Federal Employee
(Separate Website)
Link to the federal Office of Personnel Management - Retirement Services website. This site contains information on federal employee pensions, including publications and links to other resources.
IPERS
(Separate Website)
Link to the Iowa Public Employee Retirement System website.
IPERS Fact Sheet
An overview of the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System (IPERS)
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Military Pension Survivor Benefits
In many cases, surviving spouses of military retirees can continue to get pension benefits. In the military, this payment option is called a "Survivor Benefit Plan," or SBP for short.
By: Upper Midwest Pension Rights Project
Military Pensions
(Separate Website)
This website contains information on military retirement options and plans and links to other resources.
Municipal Fire and Police Retirement System of Iowa
(Separate Website)
Link to the Iowa police and firefighter pension website.
Railroad Retirement
(Separate Website)
This is the official Railroad Retirement Board website. It contains information and publications on Railroad Retirement pensions.
Social Security Administration
(Separate Website)
This is the official Social Security Administration website. It contains information and publications on Social Security pensions
Veterans Pensions
(Separate Website)
Link to the Compensation and Benefits page of the Veterans Administration website. It contains information and links describing pensions and other benefits for veterans.
Women and Pensions: What Women Need to Know and Do
(Separate Website)
An online pamphlet with basic facts about retirement benefits with links to additional resources.
READ THIS BEFORE USING ANY PART OF THE IOWA LEGAL AID WEBSITE (ILAW) If you cannot afford a lawyer and have a legal problem in Iowa, you may be able to get free legal help. Call Iowa Legal Aid. To find out which office serves your county, call 1-800-532-1275 or 515-243-2151 in the Des Moines calling area. If you are age 60 or over, you may be able to get free legal advice from The Legal Hotline for Older Iowans at 1-800-992-8161 or 282-8161 in Des Moines. All numbers are Voice and TTY. Assistance in appealing denial of veterans benefits are also offered at no cost by county commission of veteran affairs offices as maintained pursuant to section 35B.6.
This Website Does NOT Give Legal Advice. When you use ILAW, you are just making a request for information. No part of this site or any link found through this site is meant to give you legal advice. Using any part of this site does not make you a client. If you send an e-mail to anyone you reach through this site, it does not make you a client of any lawyer. See a lawyer to get complete, correct, and up-to-date legal advice.
ILAW Only Has a General Summary of the Law. It is not meant to fully explain topics. Do not assume what you read on ILAW applies to your specific case. Also, the law may vary from state to state. What you find on this website may not apply where you live or to court actions filed in other states.
The Law Often Changes. Content on this site was correct when it was written. Check the date on each page. Do not assume what you see here is still correct when you read it.
Links. This website has links to other Internet sites. We have these links so you can find help on legal matters from the justice community. Other sites are responsible for all content on their sites.
E-mail. Using ILAW or sending e-mail through this website does NOT make you a client of any person or program you reach through this site. When you use e-mail, you risk having someone else access part or all of your message.
As You Look at this Website, Remember it is Not a Substitute for Legal Advice.
The Iowa Legal Aid Website is a project of Iowa Legal Aid, the Volunteer Lawyer Projects of the Iowa State Bar and Polk County Bar Associations and HELP Legal Assistance.