Does a pension plan cashout in 2016 count as a retirement plan distribution? It asked from anything from 2014 on the credits section for contributing to one.

Yes. The payout from a pension plan is a retirement distribution. You should receive Form 1099-R from the pension plan administrator by first week in February.

Yes, a pension cash out would count as a retirement plan distribution.

You are in the saver's credit area and there are rules against taking the credit when you had prior distributions.