Will PBGC payouts be as big as I was counting on?

Maybe not - and that's a major drawback. PBGC payouts have a maximum monthly limit. If your expected benefit was above that amount, you're out of luck. In 2016, the monthly max is $5,011.36 for a 65-year-old who is the only person receiving the benefit, and $4,510.22 if you take a so-called joint-and-survivor benefit that entitles you or your spouse to continue to receive the payment (at 50% of the original payout) when widowed. Anyone younger than 65 gets less than those amounts.

You can check out the sliding payout scale at the PBGC Web site.
