Baby Boomer and Generation X households that have a defined benefit (DB) pension plan accrual at retirement age are overall almost 12 percentage points less likely to be "at risk" of running short of money for basic needs and uninsured health costs in retirement, according to a new report by the nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI).

The EBRI report finds that having a DB pension plan is particularly valuable for those with the lowest income in both age groups, but also has a "strong impact" on reducing at-risk rates for those in the middle class: Among those in the second- and third-income groups combined (covering middle-income workers), the combined relative at-risk reduction is almost 20 percent.

"The data show that defined benefit plans are tremendously important in achieving retirement income adequacy for Baby Boomers and Gen Xers," said Jack VanDerhei, EBRI research director and author of the report.

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