Congress is not so divided that it can’t complete a few positive actions.

You may see major changes in your retirement plans under reforms the House passed 417-3 last week, the Senate is expected to pass and the President to sign.

The reforms will make it easier for employers to offer 401(k)-type accounts and for you to convert the balance into a lifetime income.

Many retirees fear outliving their money as life expectancy rises.

The bill:

• Encourages 401(k)-type plans to offer annuities, a type of insurance to guarantee a monthly income as long as a retiree lives.

• Will repeal the age cap for contributing to traditional individual retirement accounts, now 70½.

• Will increase the age when you must start withdrawing from 401(k)s and IRAs to 72 from 70½.

• Has features to help part-timers, parents, home-care workers and employees at small businesses.

The bill lets parents withdraw up to $10,000 from 529 education-savings plans to repay student loans.

Parents can take withdrawals from retirement accounts up to $5,000 for expenses for a new child.

To pay for the changes, the bill requires many who inherit tax-advantaged retirement accounts after the end of this year to withdraw the money over a shorter time than now required.

They would have to drain the accounts within 10 years and pay taxes due.

Surviving spouses and minor children are exempt.