David A. Bonello is our new Minnesota Senior Federation Upper Midwest Pension Rights Project Manager. David is a graduate of William Mitchell College of Law, and a member of the California and Minnesota State Bar Association. Before joining the Minnesota Senior Federation, David worked in Richmond and Oakland, California for the Bay Area Legal Aid as a staff attorney, and before in San Francisco as a lawyer at the Neighborhood Legal Assistance Foundation, the Volunteer Legal Services Program/Homeless Advocacy Project. David is assisted in his capacity by Mike Kellett, lawyer consultant for the Pension Rights Project since December 2007. 

The Upper Midwest Pension Rights Project strives to improve the quality of life and financial well being of retirees of the Upper Midwest by providing workers, retirees, and their beneficiaries with high-quality, comprehensive and cost-effective pension information, counseling, advocacy and referral through a coordinated, cost-effective regional service.

The Pension Rights Project is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Aging. This three-year initiative to strengthen quality, comprehensive pension counseling, information and referral through a coordinated, regional service model to the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota. The Minnesota Senior Federation was chosen to head this project.

The desired outcomes include: an increase in overall economic self sufficiency of retirees served, heightened consumer awareness of pension counseling, information and referral services, increased efficiencies, improved project outcome data, and a restoration of legal rights to pension benefits by participants who often can least afford it.

The project is assisted by a wonderful advisory group of 14 lawyers who are from some of the most prestigious law firms and corporations in the area. They serve to advise the MNSF Pension Project staff as well as help if litigation is necessary. In addition, the Pension Project staff are joined by three intern law students. Currently the project is helping more than 150 members with their pensions. 

If you have a question about your pension, contact David Bonello at 651/783-5010.