Online premium filing (My PAA) (PBGC.gov)

Starting July 2007, you can print a blank check voucher from our Web site if you forget to print it while in My PAA or if you are uploading a file with multiple filings. While vouchers are not required, they assist with the automatic posting of checks. For more information, click on: premium payment options.

What is Online Premium Filing (My PAA)?

My Plan Administration Account (My PAA) is a secure Web-based application that enables pension plan professionals to electronically submit premium filings and payments to PBGC in accordance with PBGC’s regulations, which require that:

Large plans (those with 500 or more participants for the prior year) e-file starting July 1, 2006, for plan years beginning on or after 1/1/2006.
All plans e-file for plan years beginning on or after 1/1/2007.

PBGC’s mandatory e-filing requirements apply to estimated and final filings, including both original and amended filings. Using My PAA to electronically submit your premium filings:

Streamlines the premium filing process for users.
Helps users prepare and PBGC process premium filings faster and more accurately.
Provides immediate confirmation of date and time that PBGC received your filing.
Helps PBGC provide more accurate and timely invoices.
Speeds up refund processing.
Offers filing options that enable filers to view premium data submitted.
Enables on-line access to plan premium filing account histories.

How to Get Started

Create a My PAA account
Each person who will take part in the e-filing process must first register for a My PAA account by setting up a user ID and password that will be used to access My PAA. Each person only registers once because the user ID and password that are set up are used for all plans, premium filings, e-filing options, and My PAA tasks.
Review the create an account demonstration
Identify the plan's “filing coordinator”
The filing coordinator is the person who typically ensures that the plan's premium filings are submitted timely and has the responsibility to perform My PAA administrative tasks for the plan. The responsible parties for the plan (e.g., the plan administrator, plan sponsor, enrolled actuary) should work together to determine who will be the plan’s filing coordinator. Anyone can be the filing coordinator (e.g., the plan administrator’s representative, actuary, consultant, etc.) as long as there is agreement among the plan or sponsor and the people involved.
Determine which e-filing option and payment method to use
The plan's administrator/sponsor, along with the filing coordinator, determines the e-filing option to use from among these three options:
Filing option 1 - Create and submit filings via My PAA’s Data Entry and Editing Screens only for plans reflected in your account.
- Each person who will prepare, edit or sign a filing must have a My PAA account
- Each filing is created separately in My PAA and submitted individually to PBGC
- Payment may be made within My PAA or outside of My PAA
  more about filing option 1
Filing option 2 - Import filings created with compatible private-sector software and submit them via My PAA only for plans reflected in your account.
- Each person who will prepare, edit or sign a filing must have a My PAA account
- More than one filing can be imported at a time
- Each imported filing is submitted individually to PBGC
- Payment may be made within My PAA or outside of My PAA
  more about filing option 2
Filing option 3 - Upload and submit filings created with compatible private-sector software for any plan if at least one plan is in the uploader’s account (even for plans not reflected in the person’s account).
- Only the person performing the upload is required to have a My PAA account
- More than one filing can be uploaded and submitted at the same time
- Payments may be made within My PAA or outside of My PAA for uploads which contain a single filing
- Payments must be made outside of My PAA for uploads which contain more than one filing.
  more about filing option 3
Add a plan (filing coordinators only)
The filing coordinator adds at least one plan to his/her My PAA account using information from the plan’s last premium filing for the most current plan year. For example, one of the entries required is the net premium due after credits are taken ($0 or greater).
Review the add a plan demonstration
Set up filing team (filing coordinators only)
The filing coordinator then sets up the e-filing team for the plan (if applicable) by inviting other practitioners who will be involved with the e-filing process (e.g., who will contribute to the e-filing) and assigning them appropriate permissions.
Review the Invite practitioner demonstration
Prepare/submit premium filing(s)
The appropriate filing team member begins the e-filing process using the desired filing option. The remaining steps in the filing process are dependent upon the option selected, and the make up of the filing team.
More information about the three filing options

How Online Premium Filing (My PAA) Works (Premium E-Filing and Payment Options)

Premium E-Filing Options

My PAA offers three electronic filing options to meet the varying business requirements of premium filers. These options are detailed below. You may find it helpful to review the Comparison Chart of Premium E-Filing Options and the Overview of e-filing process documents when determining the best option for your needs.

Filing Option 1: Prepare Premium Filing via My PAA’s Data Entry and Editing Screens

Use the My PAA data entry and editing screens to create and submit premium filings (for plan years 2004 and later). My PAA includes a step-by-step process for entering a plan's filing data. This process creates a filing that can be electronically edited, routed, signed, paid, and submitted to PBGC. Note that each My PAA reviewer and certifier needs his/her own My PAA user ID and password and the plan must be in each person's account.

Features include:

My PAA’s data entry and editing screens are utilized for all e-filing tasks (no additional software or paper certifications are needed).

Confirmation receipt includes all of the filing data submitted.

Plan’s account history may be reviewed online (if reviewer has the “account history permission” set by the filing coordinator).

Tips for Using My PAA’s Data Entry and Editing Screens

Verify that each person who will contribute to the plan’s e-filing has an account (i.e. a user ID and password).

Confirm that each person who will contribute to the filing has the plan in his/her account. The plan's filing coordinator is responsible for making sure each person has the plan in his/her account by establishing the plan's filing team. To do so, the filing coordinator invites each person who will be involved with the e-filing process and sets up what each person will be authorized to do (i.e., create and edit filings, sign and submit as plan administrator, sign as enrolled actuary, authorize the premium payment, view account history, and act as filing coordinator).

Confirm each person’s role for the upcoming filing (for example, who will start the filing in My PAA and who will submit the completed e-filing to PBGC).

Review a demonstration of a filing created using filing option 1

Filing Option 2: Import Premium Filing(s) Created in Private-Sector Software Into My PAA’s Data Entry and Editing Screens

Use My PAA to “import” premium filings created with private-sector software that has been updated to meet PBGC’s requirements (for plan years 2006 and later). Filers may “import” one or more premium filings created with private-sector software if the computer file that contains the filings meets PBGC’s XML file standards. The imported filing data is transferred into My PAA’s data entry and editing screens for editing, routing, signing, payment, and submission to PBGC. Note that each My PAA reviewer and certifier needs his/her own user ID and password and the plan must be in each person’s account. If you are unsure whether your software is updated to support this e-filing option, please verify the information on our Web site or contact your software vendor/developer.

Features include:

My PAA’s editing screens are utilized to complete and submit the imported software-prepared filing (no additional paper certifications are needed).

Confirmation receipt includes all of the filing data submitted.

Plan’s account history may be reviewed online (if reviewer has the “account history permission” set by the filing coordinator).

Tips for Importing Premium Filing(s) Created in Private-Sector Software Into My PAA’s Data Entry and Editing Screens

Verify that your private-sector software is compatible with PBGC’s XML file requirements (verify information on PBGC’s Web site or check with your software vendor).

Verify that each person who will contribute to the plan’s e-filing has an account (i.e., a user ID and password).

Confirm that each person has the plan in his/her account. The plan’s filing coordinator establishes the plan’s Filing Team by “inviting” each person who will be involved with the e-filing process and setting up what each person will be authorized to do (i.e., edit filings, sign and submit as plan administrator, sign as enrolled actuary, authorize the premium payment, view account history, and act as filing coordinator).

Confirm each person’s role for the upcoming filing (for example, who will create the premium filing in private-sector software, import it into My PAA’s editing screens, and submit the completed e-filing to PBGC).

Review a demonstration of a filing created using the import function

Filing Option 3: Upload Premium Filing(s) Created With Private-Sector Software

Use My PAA to upload premium filings created with private-sector software that has been updated to meet PBGC’s requirements (for plan years 2005 and later). Filers may “upload” one or more premium filings created with private-sector software if the computer file that contains the filings meets PBGC’s XML file standards. The uploaded filings are immediately transferred to PBGC’s premium system for processing and posting to the appropriate plan accounts. Note that only the person who uploads the file needs a user ID and password, and only one plan must be in the uploader’s account (not necessarily a plan for which a filing will be uploaded). If you are unsure whether your software is updated to support this e-filing option, please verify the information on our Web site or contact your software vendor/developer.

Features include:

Confirmation receipt shows the date and time that PBGC received the file containing one or more premium filings. The submitted data on each filing is not reflected within My PAA.

The file passed to PBGC contains already completed filings (which may not be edited with My PAA). Paper certifications are typically required and filed with the plan's records (not submitted to PBGC).

Plan’s account history may be reviewed online (if the plan is in your account and if you have the “account history permission” set by the filing coordinator).

Tips for Uploading Premium Filing(s) Created With Private-Sector Software

Verify that your private-sector software is compatible with PBGC’s XML file requirements (verify information on PBGC’s Web site or check with your software vendor).

Determine who will create the premium filing in private-sector software and confirm that the filing is complete and accurate because changes cannot be made once the filing is uploaded to PBGC.

Determine who will upload the file (containing one or more filings) into My PAA and verify that the uploader has an account with at least one plan in his/her account. Note that filings may be uploaded for any plan (even if the plan is not reflected in the person's account).

Determine how filing certifications will be made (the plan administrator (PA) must always certify while the enrolled actuary (EA) must certify for certain types of filings). If the PA or EA is the uploader, the certification may be made on the My PAA upload screen. If the PA or EA is not the uploader, the certification will typically be made on a paper copy of the filing information (printed from the software) and kept with the plan's records (they should not be mailed to PBGC). Certified copies of filing information are subject to audit and must be retained with plan records for six years.

Review a demonstation of an uploaded filing

E-filings may be paid online using My PAA (via ACH, Internet check, or credit card) or paid outside of the My PAA application (via ACH, Fed wire, or paper check). If you upload a file that contains more than one premium filing (i.e., a batch of filings), a separate payment must be made outside of My PAA for each filing.

Payment Within My PAA

A filing may be paid online within My PAA by a person who has been given the permission to authorize premium payments within My PAA. These payments (and filings) may also be scheduled to be submitted at a future date (e.g., closer to the filing due date). Payments made through My PAA must be part of a filing and made when a filing is submitted. My PAA offers the following payment options:
- Automated Clearing House (ACH) – This type of transaction will authorize PBGC to take your premium payment from the bank routing code and checking or savings account number that you specify. Make sure that your account is not “blocked,” which would prevent PBGC from “pulling” the funds from your account (for example, PBGC is aware that some “Trust Accounts” are blocked).
- Electronic Check – This is the electronic equivalent to writing a check. It involves entering the check number of a (voided) paper check, your checking account number, and the bank routing code. You can get the bank routing code and account number from the information preprinted at the bottom of your check. Just as with an ACH transaction, your premium payment will be debited from the checking account you specify. Make sure that your account is not “blocked” which would prevent PBGC from “pulling” the funds from your account (for example, PBGC is aware that some “Trust Accounts” are blocked).
- Credit Card – My PAA accepts Visa and MasterCard credit cards that have a U.S. billing address. If you choose this method, you will be charged a convenience fee of approximately 3.19% of the premium payment amount. There is a $99,999.99 limit (including the convenience fee).

Payment Outside of My PAA

Premium filings may also be paid outside of My PAA. (Note that if a file containing more than one filing (i.e., a batch of filings) is uploaded to PBGC, each filing must be paid separately outside of My PAA):

Pay via Electronic Funds Transfer - My PAA will provide you with instructions as well as with PBGC’s bank routing code and account number, so your bank can electronically send your ACH or Fed wire payment on your behalf. To ensure that your payment is properly posted, you must reference the plan’s 9-digit employer identification number (EIN), 3-digit plan number (PN), and plan year commencing date (PYC) within your electronic funds transfer. Send Electronic Funds Transfer Payments to:

	JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
ABA:	071000013
Account:	656510666
Beneficiary:	PBGC
Reference:	EIN/PN: XX-XXXXXXX/XXX
	PYC: MM/DD/YY

Pay via Paper Check – My PAA will provide you with instructions, the correct mailing address (which is always the most current mailing address), and a printable voucher to complete and include with your payment (if you are submitting one filing). Note that if you forget to print the check voucher while in My PAA, you cannot return to My PAA to print it. Also, if you upload a file containing multiple filings, My PAA does not allow you to select a payment method or to print a check voucher. For these situations, you can print a blank check voucher from our Web site.

Complete the requested information (e.g., EIN/PN) and send the voucher with your check. While vouchers assist with the automatic posting of payments, they are not required because all checks (with or without a voucher) must reference the plan’s 9-digit employer identification number (EIN), 3-digit plan number (PN), and plan year commencing date (PYC) in order to be properly posted to the plan’s account.

Send your check and voucher (if any) via regular or certified mail to:

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
Dept. 77430
P.O. Box 77000
Detroit, MI 48277-0430

If you use a delivery service, send your check and voucher (if any) to:

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
9000 Haggerty Road
Dept. 77430
Mail Code MI1-8244
Belleville, MI 48111

Review a demonstration of Payment Alternatives

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I get help?
How do I set up/change my account information?
How can I change the plan name or the address of the plan sponsor/administrator?
What does it mean to be a plan’s Filing Coordinator or part of a plan’s Filing Team?
What are My PAA “permissions” and how are they used?
How are premium e-filings certified/signed?
Who can submit e-filings to PBGC?
How do I know a premium filing was received by PBGC?
How can I view a plan’s account history online?
What is a Home Page, Plan Page, and Filing Manager Page (within My PAA)?

Where can I get help?

If you have premium e-filing questions please refer to the My PAA Users Manual, which provides detailed step-by-step instructions on how to use My PAA to perform e-filing related tasks. Note that this manual is also available on each My PAA screen.

If you still have questions, call PBGC’s Practitioner Call Center at 1-800-736-2444 or 202-326-4242 and select the “premium” option; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time. (For TTY/TDD users, call the federal relay service at 1-800-877-8339 and ask to be connected to 1-800-736-2444.) You can also e-mail your questions to premiums@pbgc.gov.

How do I set up/change my account information?

To use My PAA, you must first establish an account that will include your user ID and password, your secret question/answer, and at least one plan for which premiums will be e-filed. To set up your user ID and password, click on “Sign Up for My PAA – New Users Only” and provide the information requested (e.g., e-mail address). After you establish your user ID and password:

If you will be the filing coordinator for one or more plans, you will add the plan(s) from your “Home Page”.
If someone else will be the filing coordinator, that person needs to “invite” you to be part of each plan’s filing team.

Note:

You will use only one user ID and password for all of your plans.
Once your account is established, you can make changes (if needed) to your name, telephone number, e-mail address, and password.
You cannot change your user ID and secret question and answer.

How can I change the plan name or the address of the plan sponsor/administrator?

The name of each plan is displayed on the Home Page as well as the plan’s Plan Page. In addition, each plan’s Plan Page displays the sponsor’s name/address, and the plan administrator’s name/address. If this information needs to be changed, you can generally do so by including the updated information on the plan’s next premium filing. After the submitted information is reflected within PBGC’s premium processing system, the updated information will be reflected within My PAA. Note that uploaded filings will only result in updates to the Plan Page -- the Plan Name on the Home Page will not be updated.

What does it mean to be a plan’s filing coordinator or part of the filing team?

As in the “paper world,” there may be one person or several people involved with preparing, signing, and paying a premium filing in My PAA for a plan. To make this process run smoothly in My PAA, each plan/sponsor must designate a person who will be the filing coordinator for the plan. The filing coordinator is the person who typically oversees the premium filing process, ensures that filings are submitted timely, and performs administrative tasks in My PAA.

The filing coordinator starts the process by setting up his/her own account (e.g., a user ID and password) and (if necessary) adding the plan to that account. The filing coordinator then “invites” each person who will be part of the plan’s filing team (if applicable) and sets up what each person can do for each plan (create/edit data, certify as plan administrator, certify as enrolled actuary, select the filing method, view a plan’s account history, or act as filing coordinator). Once an invited person has signed up for his/her own account, or if he/she already has an account, his/her name will be listed in the group of the plan’s practitioners (found on the Plan Page or on the Filing Manager Page for a filing that is in process). The filing coordinator can subsequently make changes as needed (e.g., add or remove plans and add or remove filing team members).

The e-filing team concept most fully applies to the e-filing methods of using the My PAA data entry and editing screens or importing software-prepared filings into My PAA’s editing screens. For the upload filing method, the filing coordinator needs to verify that the authorized uploader has an account -- with at least one plan in the account (not necessarily a plan for which a filing will be uploaded). If the uploader does not already have a plan in his/her account, the filing coordinator can “invite” the uploader to be part of the plan’s filing team.

What are My PAA “permissions” and how are they used?

As in the “paper world,” electronic filing also has business rules that require certain people to perform certain tasks – e.g., only the plan administrator can use My PAA to sign an electronic filing as the plan administrator. The ability to perform these tasks in My PAA is controlled by the set of permissions a person has for a certain plan. The plan’s filing coordinator is responsible for establishing and editing each e-filing team member’s permissions.

All filing team members can:

Use the My PAA data entry and editing screens to create and edit a filing for each plan in their account.
Import a software-prepared filing for each plan in their account
Upload a software-prepared filing for any plan.

In addition, a plan’s filing coordinator or plan administrator can submit filings that contain all the required information and that have the required signatures and authorizations.

The filing coordinator for a plan is responsible for setting the following optional permissions for each person on the plan’s e-filing team (as appropriate):

Sign and submit the filing as the plan administrator
Sign the filing as the enrolled actuary
Select the payment alternative
View the plan’s account history
Perform filing coordinator tasks

Since filing team members can have different permissions, filings (that were either created with the My PAA data entry and editing screens or imported into the My PAA editing screens) are “routed” to the appropriate team members for action (e.g., for the plan administrator to e-sign). This means that more than one person may be required to complete, obtain necessary signatures and submit filings created in My PAA or imported into My PAA. However, the upload filing method only requires one person who is authorized to upload filings and that person only needs to have one plan in his/her account.

My PAA also has a permission that the filing coordinator can give to any e-filing team member called “View the plan’s account history.” If a person has this permission, he/she can view an online account history that shows the filings and payments PBGC has received from that plan, regardless of the filing or payment method used to submit them.

It is recommended that there be one or more back-ups for all e-filing roles/permissions (e.g., plan administrator, enrolled actuary, payer, filing coordinator) to help ensure continuity as people go on vacation or leave the company. Note that when a plan is initially added to a filing coordinator’s account, there may be a delay before the filing coordinator can add another filing coordinator. As changes occur to the team of people available to contribute to a plan’s e-filing, the filing coordinator makes changes to the filing team members (e.g., permissions may be changed and practitioners may be added to, or deleted from, the plan’s filing team).

How are premium e-filings certified/signed?

The premium filing certification requirements have not changed with the implementation of electronic filing. The plan administrator must always certify each filing while the enrolled actuary must certify certain types of filings. What electronic filing has changed is how the certifications are completed.

For filings that are prepared via the My PAA data entry screens and for software-prepared filings that are imported into the My PAA screens, all certifications are made on the My PAA screens. This is why each certifier must have an account (e.g., user ID and password) and the plan must be included within each person’s account.

For software-prepared filings that are uploaded into My PAA, the plan administrator or enrolled actuary may certify directly on the My PAA upload screen if he/she is the uploader. If the plan administrator or enrolled actuary is not the uploader, the certification may be made on a paper copy of the filing information (typically printed from the software). Certified copies of filing information are subject to audit and must be retained with plan records for six years from the due date of the filing (they are not submitted to PBGC).

Who can submit e-filings to PBGC?

For filings created in My PAA’s data entry and editing screens or imported into My PAA’s editing screens, only the filing coordinator or plan administrator can actually submit e-filings to PBGC after the filings are completed and certified (i.e., they are the only people who will be able to see and click the “Submit” button that will send the filing to PBGC’s processing system). For completed filings that will simply be uploaded to PBGC, anyone who is authorized to upload on behalf of a plan can submit the file to PBGC.

How do I know a premium filing was received by PBGC?

My PAA will always display a confirmation to the submitter that shows the date and time that PBGC received the filing/file. More specifically, for filings created in My PAA or imported into My PAA, the confirmation is e-mailed to the filing coordinator, the people who signed the filing (the plan administrator and enrolled actuary, if applicable), and the person who made the payment method selection. For uploaded flings, the confirmation is only displayed to the uploader of the file and if the uploader chooses, he/she can receive a confirmation e-mail as well.

In addition, the following online information is available:

For filings created in My PAA’s data entry screens and for software-prepared filings that are imported into My PAA, a receipt is available on the Plan Page that shows the date and time of receipt, the confirmation number, and the actual data that was submitted to PBGC. All filing team members can view this information.
For uploaded files, only the uploader can view the following information on his/her Home Page: the date and time the file was received, the My PAA confirmation number, and summary information entered by the uploader, e.g., the file name, comments, and payment selection (if applicable). Note that the submitted filing data for each filing (within the uploaded file) cannot be viewed within My PAA.

How can I view a plan’s account history online?

To view a plan’s account history in My PAA, a person must have an account (e.g., user ID and password), have the plan in his/her account, and have the “permission” to view the plan’s account history. This can be done regardless of the e-filing method that is used. While each person is responsible for setting up his/her own account, the plan’s filing coordinator must invite you to be part of the plan’s filing team and “permit” you to view the plan’s account history.

What is a Home Page, Plan Page, and Filing Manager Page (within My PAA)?

Home Page

Every time you log into My PAA, the first page displayed is your Home Page. The Home Page reflects all of the plans that are in your account and serves as your “base of operations” for all My PAA activities. For example:

If you will be the filing coordinator for one or more plans, you can add a plan to your account or invite another practitioner to each plan in your account from your Home Page.
If you have plans in your account, you can create a filing within My PAA or import a software-prepared filing into the My PAA screens.
If you have at least one plan in your account, you can upload a filing for that plan or any plan (even for plans not reflected in your account). Your Home Page also reflects summary information about any files that you uploaded.

Plan Page

Each plan in your account has a Plan Page that provides you access to filing receipts for filings submitted that were created via the My PAA screens or imported into the My PAA screens. In addition, the plan’s account history is available online if the person has the permission to view the plan’s account history.

To access the Plan Page, click the “Go to Plan Page” button to the right of the plan’s name in the Plans area of your Home Page.

Filing Manager Page

The Filing Manager Page enables a team to collaborate through My PAA to complete and submit a filing that was created in the My PAA screens or that was imported into the My PAA screens. Once a filing is created, team members open the filing and take action on it via the Filing Manager Page. Any team member can review the draft filing in read-only mode. However, to take action on a filing (e.g., make edits or sign it), you must have the appropriate permission (e.g., sign as the enrolled actuary) and must have possession of the filing (it must be shown in your “Inbox” on the Home Page). If someone else has the filing, he/she can route it to you so you can take the necessary action.

My PAA Tips

Manage Your Account
Manage Your Plans and E-Filing Teams (Filing Coordinators Only)
My PAA E-Mails
My PAA System Messages
System Compatibility with My PAA
My PAA Printing Tips
My PAA Navigation Tips

Manage Your Account

Be careful when you set up your user ID and secret question/answer because they cannot later be changed (even if you inadvertently misspelled them).
Keep your user ID, password, and secret question/answer in a secure place for ready access should you need them for your next filing.
You will be locked out of My PAA if you attempt to log in and enter an incorrect user ID or password three times. To unlock your account, you will need to know your secret question/answer and the e-mail address you have on record in My PAA.
If you forget your user ID or password, click on the appropriate link(s) on the right side of My PAA’s Log In screen.
If your account becomes locked, contact PBGC's practitioner customer service representatives at 1-800-736-2444 (select the premium option) or send an e-mail to premiums@pbgc.gov.

For details, go to the section in the My PAA Users Manual entitled “Manage Your Account (Information that Can/Cannot be Changed).”

Manage Your Plans and E-Filing Teams (Filing Coordinators Only)

Filing coordinators can add plans, invite practitioners, remove practitioners, and edit permissions. These tasks are typically done from your Home Page or Plan Page. The Home Page contains buttons to “add a plan” or “invite a practitioner.” The Plan Page contains buttons to “invite a practitioner,” “remove a practitioner,’ and to edit a person’s permissions (by clicking on the person’s name).

Here are a few tips to help filing coordinators manage their plans and filing teams:

Be careful when typing in the plan name when you add a plan. To correct a misspelling on the Home Page, you will need to submit an e-filing that is created within My PAA’s data entry/editing screens or imported into My PAA’s editing screen.
Each role (including the filing coordinator role) should have multiple people assigned to help ensure smooth transitions as changes occur.
If the filing coordinator will change, the current filing coordinator should first invite the new filing coordinator and then remove himself/herself.
One filing coordinator can remove another filing coordinator but cannot edit another filing coordinator’s permissions.
If a plan is left without a filing coordinator, you will need to contact PBGC’s representatives for assistance.

For details, go to the section of the My PAA Users Manual entitled “Manage Your Plans and e-Filing Team (Filing Coordinators Only).”

My PAA E-Mails

If you do not receive an expected e-mail from My PAA (e.g., with your temporary user ID and password), the e-mail may be blocked by your system security software (e.g., treated as “spam”). To receive the e-mail, we suggest that you first check with your system’s security staff to see if an e-mail from “@pbgc.gov” is blocked. If so, asked that it be unblocked so you can receive it and also request (for the future) that e-mails from “@pbgc.gov” be added as a “trusted site” to your systems. If this is not an option or does not resolve the issue, contact PBGC’s practitioner customer service representatives at 1-800-736-2444 (select the “premium” option) or send an e-mail to premiums@pbgc.gov.

When you route an e-filing to another person, that person will receive an e-mail notifying him/her of your action. When you route the filing, you will be given the opportunity to enter text that will be included in this e-mail so you can include a brief message to that person. This message cannot be greater than 256 characters. If you exceed this maximum, you will receive an error message that says “Your entry or selection for the 'Additional Message' indicated is invalid, or you have left it blank. Please try again.” To resolve the issue, reduce the length of your message and resend the filing (with message).

My PAA System Messages

The following are examples of the types of messages that you may see from My PAA:

If you receive a message that says “system unavailable,” this typically means that My PAA is not available at that time (e.g., while system maintenance is being done). If you continue to receive this message over an extended period of time, contact PBGC’s practitioner customer service representatives at 1-800-736-2444 (select the “premium” option) or send an e-mail to premiums@pbgc.gov.
If you receive a message that says you are “locked out” of My PAA, this means that you have tried to enter an incorrect user ID and/or password three times or the incorrect secret answer three times. If your account becomes locked, contact PBGC's practitioner customer service representatives at 1-800-736-2444 (select the premium option) or send an e-mail to premiums@pbgc.gov.
If you receive a message that you have been “logged out” of My PAA, this means that you have been inactive within My PAA for at least 20 minutes. To resolve this condition, you will need to start over and enter your user ID and password into My PAA’s Log In Screen.

System Compatibility with My PAA

Since My PAA is a Web-based application, it works best if your computer has standard software that is up-to-date and if you use a traditional browser that is fully supported and verified by PBGC. Otherwise, you may experience unexpected and unsupported problems when trying to use My PAA.

The browsers supported and fully verified by PBGC are:

Microsoft Internet Explorer (Version 6.0 and higher)
Firefox (Version 1.5 and higher)

My PAA Printing Tips

You can print any displayed My PAA screen at any time. To do so, you can either:

Right-click with your mouse and select the “Print” option.
Select “File/Print” from your browser’s menu.

If you want to print a specific section of a screen (e.g., if you want to print just one paragraph of an instruction screen):

Highlight the portion you would like to print.
Right-click with your mouse and select the “Print” option OR select “File/Print” from your browser’s menu.
When the print dialog box is displayed, click once on the option to print only the “Selection.”
Click the “Print” button on the print dialog box.

My PAA Navigation Tips

It is best to only use navigation buttons on the My PAA screens (typically in the bottom right of the screen) rather than the buttons provided by the browser software you are using. Using the browser-provided buttons can sometimes result in your receiving a system message that will not allow you to continue. If this occurs, you will need to close My PAA and start over with the Log In process.

After you click on a button on a My PAA screen, it may take a short time for the action to complete (e.g., to navigate to another page). You should not try to shorten the wait time by repeatedly clicking on the button because it may lead to the page “freezing” and you will not be able to continue. If the page does “freeze,” you will need to close My PAA and start over with the Log In process.