Safeway 401(k)

Safeway Inc. is an American supermarket chain that supplies a wide variety of products, from basic groceries and food to general merchandise. In 2018/19, they were acquired by the Albertsons Companies Group, and the Safeway 401(k) plan is now run under the Albertsons Companies LLC 401(k) plan. Safeway employees are entitled to a range of benefits, including the 401(k) plan.

Safeway employees over 21 years of age are eligible to participate in the company 401(k) plan immediately. You can contribute anything from 1% to 75% of your eligible pay. Safeway does not offer guaranteed matching of contributions but may make a discretionary match of up to 7% of eligible pay if you have been employed for over a year and work at least 1,000 hours a year.

Safeway 401(k) provider

The Safeway 401(k) plan was provided by Conduent HR Services, and it is still available to Safeway employees who joined the company before 2018. If you were employed by Safeway after 2019, you may instead be on the new combined Safeway 401(k)/Albertsons Companies 401(k) plan provided by Fidelity NetBenefits. Your HR team should tell you which applies. 

If you are currently employed under the merged Albertsons Companies/Safeway Inc 401(k) plan, you can use the Safeway Employee Portal to manage your 401(k). You can create your username and password as a first-time user on the site.

Safeway 401(k) login

You can access your Safeway 401(k) through the Safeway Employee Portal, or, for newer post-merger hires, through the Albertsons’ Employee Portal. If you are no longer employed by Safeway, you can use the Conduent HR Services website to log in and administer your benefits.

If you were hired post-merger and have left the company, use the Fidelity NetBenefits site instead. If you forget your login details at any time, you can request a password reset from the login page for all these options.

Safeway 401(k) match

The Safeway 401(k) plan does not offer guaranteed matches. Instead, it leaves an allowance for a discretionary match to be distributed once a year if it wishes to. This could be up to 7% but is not guaranteed.

To be eligible, you will need to have been employed for a full year and with at least 1,000 hours worked that year. You must still be employed by Safeway/Albertsons Companies on the last day or have passed 57 years of age, and be making active contributions to the 401(k). However, some unions have different match agreements with the company. Only regular contributions count for matching, not catch-up contributions.

Safeway 401(k) customer service

You can get any help you need with your Safeway 401(k) via the Safeway Employee Portal, or call the Albertsons Companies Benefits Center at 888-255-2269 between 6 am and 6 pm AZ time. You can also contact Fidelity NetBenefits for assistance at 866-956-3433.

Safeway 401(k) loan

You can take up to two types of loans from your Safeway 401(k) i.e. a general purpose 401(k) loan and a home purchase 401(k) loan. You cannot have 2 of the same type active at once.

While the general purpose loan can be used for any reason, a home purchase loan must be used for purchasing a primary residence. You can take a general loan for up to 5 years, and a home purchase loan for up to 15 years. There is no minimum amount, although you will be charged a $75 initiation fee on the loan. The maximum you can take is the lesser of 50% of your plan balance or $50,000.

Safeway 401(k) after termination

If you have left employment with Safeway and have a Safeway 401(k) plan, there are several options open to you. 401(k) plans with a balance below $1,000 will be automatically paid out to you in cash. Balances between $1,000 and $5,000 are rolled over into a company-selected IRA on your behalf. You can move the rolled over balance to your IRA at any time. 

If your 401(k) balance is above $5000, you can choose to leave it in the plan, transfer it to your new employer's 401(k) plan, or begin receiving withdrawals from it. Be aware that, under 59 ½ years of age, you will owe income tax and a penalty tax on the amount withdrawn. Once you reach age 72, you must start taking the required minimum distributions.

Safeway 401(k) withdrawal

You can withdraw your after-tax Roth 401(k) contributions and rollover funds from previous employees before age 59 ½ as long as you meet the requirements for qualified withdrawals. Roth 401(k) earnings and pre-tax contributions can only be withdrawn before 59 ½ if you qualify for a hardship withdrawal. If you have already reached 59 ½, you can withdraw your 401(k) money at any time, even if you don’t have a financial emergency.

Safeway 401(k) early withdrawal

If you are working for Safeway and you are below age 59 ½, you can only make an early Safeway 401(k) if you qualify for a financial hardship. Eligible hardships include uninsured home damage, funeral expenses for immediate family, some educational expenses, and unexpected medical expenses or threat of eviction/foreclosure.

However, you must have exhausted all other available funding, such as after-tax contributions and rollover contributions. There are some specialized military withdrawals allowed if you serve as a member of the armed forces and are called to duty for longer than 179 days.

Safeway 401(k) rollover form

You can request a Safeway 401(k) rollover form by logging in to your 401(k) account through the Fidelity NetBenefits portal, www.netbenefits.com. You can also contact Fidelity NetBenefits at 866-956-3433 if you have further questions. You will need to verify the source of your rollover funds is qualified during the process.

Safeway 401(k) account number

The easiest way to find your Safeway 401(k) account number is to log in to your account at www.netbenefits.com. Your account number will be indicated under your profile. If you are struggling to find it, contact Fidelity NetBenefits at 866-956-3433 for further assistance. You will need to verify your identity with them when you call.

Safeway 401(k) phone number

If you need assistance with your Safeway 401(k) plan, regardless of whether you held the plan before or after their merger, you can contact the administrator at 925-467-3000. For those joining the plan after 2018, or who still have an active plan under the combined Safeway 401(k)/Albertsons Companies 401(k) plan, you can also contact Fidelity NetBenefits telephonically at 866-956-3433. If you are still working at Safeway, you can also get help from the Albertsons Companies Benefits Center on 888-255-2269 between 6 am and 6 pm workdays, AZ time. 

Safeway 401(k) administrator

The plan administrator for the Safeway 401(k) (and the newer combined Albertsons Companies 401(k)) is the Director of Retirement Benefits for the Albertsons Group. As of 2023, this position is currently held by Brian Dooley. The plan administrator is responsible for the daily operations of the 401(k). You can contact them at 925-467-3000, or write to them at 5918 Stoneridge Mall Road, Pleasanton, CA, 94588

Safeway 401(k) eligibility

Safeway employees can participate in the Safeway 401(K) immediately on employment provided they are over 21 years of age. As some Safeway employees are unionized and have different plans, be sure to check with your union rep if relevant.

Safeway 401(k) vesting

You will always be vested at 80% in your private contributions and earnings. If you receive any kind of discretionary match from your Safeway 401(k) plan, you will be 50% vested in the second year and 100% from the third year of employment. Remember that you have to work at least 1,000 hours each year to meet eligibility requirements.

Safeway 401(k) app

You can manage your Safeway 401(k) benefits through the mobile app of the provider. For the older Safeway Inc. 401(k) plan, this may still be Conduent HR Services, under the app name Life@Work. It is available for iPhones and Android devices. 

For those whose plan has been moved to the newer Albertsons Companies 401(k) plan, you can use the Fidelity NetBenefits app on Apple or Android.

Safeway 401(k) summary plan description

Safeway 401(k) participants should receive a Summary Plan Description detailing the plan information and their investments. You should receive this document from the plan administrator when you first sign up.

If you’ve misplaced your copy or didn’t receive it, you can request one from the plan administrator (925-467-3000) or request it in writing at the following address: 5918 Stoneridge Mall Road, Pleasanton, CA, 94588.