Many private pension plans are federally insured--even if the company terminated its pension plan or filed for bankruptcy. Former employees of certain companies, or their heirs, may be able to claim significant benefits.

In just one example,  a 1996 class action settlement with the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation resulted in huge payments to 12,000 pension plans nationwide that were terminated between 1976 and 1981.

Many workers in those plans are now entitled to recover back pension payments plus interest. Thousands of ex-employees or their heirs have received payments averaging between $10,000 and $12,000. However, many more thousands have not yet been paid because they have not been located.

Unclaimed pension benefits are rarely compiled in state databases. However, Fortune Finders has access to the databases containing hundreds of millions of dollars in lost pension benefits.