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Unfunded Pension Plan

Pension plan that pays benefits without maintaining a dedicated prefunded asset pool large enough to cover future obligations in advance.

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An unfunded pension plan is a pension plan that pays benefits without maintaining a dedicated prefunded asset pool large enough to cover future obligations in advance.

It matters because benefit security depends more heavily on ongoing sponsor cash flow, tax revenue, or future contributors than on assets already set aside for retirees.

  • Pay-As-You-Go Pension

  • Funded Pension Plan

  • Pension Plan

  • State Pension

Revised on Monday, May 18, 2026