Based on its experience working with a wide spectrum of plans EBSA developed several best practices for employers to minimize and mitigate the problem of missing or nonresponsive participants. These include:

Maintaining accurate census information for the plan's participant population through periodic contact with current and retired beneficiaries, including contact information change requests in plan communications, and flagging undeliverable mail and email as well as uncashed checks for further investigation.
Implementing effective communication strategies that use easy-to-understand language and offering non-English language assistance where appropriate, providing information about how the plan can help eligible employees consolidate accounts from previous employers, and making sure any changes in plan and sponsor name changes are clearly articulated.
Searching for missing participants by checking with beneficiaries on file, conducting searches of public online databases, and registering missing participants in public and private pension registries.
Documenting actions taken to locate missing participants in writing and ensuring record keepers' processes and practices are adequate.

Kristen Beckman is a freelance writer based in Colorado. She previously was a writer and editor for ALM's Retirement Advisor magazine and LifeHealthPro online channel. compensation topics.

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