Retention of employee records

[Gary]

How long is a plan sponsor required to keep data records of an employee afer they terminate and receive their pension? Either in form of life annuity or lump sum. It appears from ERISA 209(a)(1) that records must be retained indefinitely. i.e. as long as there is a chance that the data to calculate the benefit is ever potentially needed. Are there any thoughts w/r to this or to other factors affecting this point?

[MWeddell]

I believe Revenue Procedure 98-25 governs this issue.