§ 4245.5 - Notice of insolvency benefit level.  


Latest version.
  • § 4245.5 Notice of insolvency benefit level.

    (a) Requirement of notice. Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, for each insolvency year the plan sponsor shall notify the PBGC and the interested parties, as defined in § 4245.3(e), of the level of benefits expected to be paid during the year (the “insolvency benefit level”). These notices shall be delivered in the manner and within the time prescribed in this section and shall contain the information described in § 4245.6.

    (b) Waiver of notice to certain interested parties. The notice of insolvency benefit level required under this section need not be given to interested parties, other than participants and beneficiaries who are in pay status or are

    The plan sponsor of an insolvent plan must file with PBGC and issue to interested parties notices of insolvency benefit level containing the information described in § 4245.6 in each of the following circumstances -

    (1) For the initial insolvency year, provide the notices of insolvency benefit level to PBGC and to interested parties.

    (2) For any insolvency year following the initial insolvency year -

    (i) If there is a change in the insolvency benefit level that affects plan payees generally, provide the notices of insolvency benefit level to PBGC and to plan payees (which, for purposes of this section, means participants and beneficiaries in pay status or reasonably expected to enter pay status during the insolvency year

    , for an insolvency year immediately following the plan year in which a notice of insolvency was required to be delivered pursuant to § 4245.3, provided that the notice of insolvency was in fact delivered.

    (c) When delivered. The plan sponsor shall mail or otherwise deliver the required notices of insolvency benefit level no later than 60 days before the beginning of the insolvency year, except that if the determination of insolvency is made fewer than 120 days before the beginning of the insolvency year, the notices shall be delivered within 60 days after the date of the plan sponsor's determination.

    (d) Delivery to PBGC -

    (1) Method of filing. The PBGC applies the rules in subpart A of part 4000 of this chapter to determine permissible methods of filing a notice of insolvency benefit level with the PBGC under this part.

    (2) Filing date. The PBGC applies the rules in subpart C of part 4000 of this chapter to determine the date that a notice of insolvency benefit level under this part was filed with the PBGC.

    (e) Delivery to interested parties -

    (1) Method of issuance. The PBGC applies the rules in subpart B of part 4000 of this chapter to determine permissible methods of issuance of the notice of insolvency benefit levels to interested parties. In addition to the methods permitted under subpart B of part 4000, the plan sponsor may notify interested parties, other than participants and beneficiaries who are in pay status or reasonably expected to enter pay status during the insolvency year for which the notice is given, by posting the notice at participants' work sites or publishing the notice in a union newsletter or in a newspaper of general circulation in the area or areas where participants reside. Notice to a participant shall be deemed notice to that participant's beneficiary or beneficiaries.

    (2) Issuance date. The PBGC applies the rules in subpart C of part 4000 of this chapter to determine the date that the notice of insolvency benefit levels was issued.

    [61 FR 34115, July 1, 1996, as amended at 68 FR 61357, Oct. 28, 2003

    ).

    (ii) If there is a change in the insolvency benefit level that affects only one plan payee or a class of plan payees but not plan payees generally (treating commencement of a person's benefits for this purpose as a change in the insolvency benefit level for that person), provide the notices of insolvency benefit level to PBGC and to each affected plan payee.

    (b) Combined notices. The plan sponsor may combine a notice of insolvency benefit level and a notice of insolvency under § 4245.3 for the same plan year.

    (c) When to provide notice. The plan sponsor must provide the required notices under this section at the time described in § 4281.45(c) of this chapter.

    [84 FR 18724, May 2, 2019]