u/No_Blueberry5531

Don’t ask how but I am just assuming it did. Any advice, someone who can help or know someone who can help?

Lived here, not the burbs, basically my entire life. Moved away for a couple of years and downtown is a zoo. I get its summer and the Fourth is approaching, but the amount of crazy loud cars and motorcycles are insane. More ambulances and cops more than ever all times of the day.

This city is growing — call it growing pains — but downtown is regressing. Sad to see so many restaurants closing too in the metro. Court Ave is struggling to find its identity as well again, and I’m hoping for the best. On a good note, folks are back in the office and downtown feels more like “downtown” again during the weekdays.

But any locals notice the difference within the last couple of years around here?

My father worked for the same company in Iowa for over 25 years and was fully vested in a pension plan. He died suddenly right before retirement and did not have a surviving spouse. I am one of his adult children and handling estate matters. There was no will.

The pension administrator denied the claim and said no benefit is payable to surviving children/the estate because there was no surviving spouse and no designated beneficiary. I have an ERISA appeal deadline coming up soon.

Additionally, a former HR exec has tipped me off saying that in a previous case, a girl in my similar situation had fought the plan and won because it is claimable. I don’t have any other information regarding this and have been trying to find out more to no avail.

I’m trying to understand what I should request or preserve before filing the appeal. I already have CBA’s (from Teamsters), and all SPD versions, and I think what is the full plan document.

Should I be looking for:
- beneficiary designation forms
- election/waiver forms
- pre-retirement survivor benefit language
- administrative record relied on for the denial
- any pension statements or accrued benefit calculations
- any union/CBA documents if applicable?

In an ERISA pension appeal, what records should I specifically request before submitting the appeal?

Should the appeal focus only on the plan language, or also on missing records, beneficiary/election history, and inconsistent plan documents?

I know I need an ERISA attorney if possible. I’m just trying to make sure I don’t miss anything important before the deadline.

Location: IOWA

Anyone here recently take the NFSI/written exam a couple weeks ago? How did you do? Score?

Did HR indicate you moved onto the next round or not? Genuinely curious. Would love to hear from folks.