Guidance documents database

Describes the revised penalty for failing to timely provide required information to PBGC in standard terminations and sufficient distress terminations.

Provides information on filing a standard termination, distribution of benefits, and standard termination audits

Guidance on determining the present value of the maximum benefit guaranteed by PBGC.

Provides simplified methods for the application of the statutory requirement that multiemployer plans in critical status disregard certain benefit reductions in determining the plan's unfunded vested benefits for purposes of determining an employer's withdrawal liability under section 4201 of ERISA.

Provides guidelines for changes to certain assumptions that multiemployer plans may use for purposes of determining eligibility for special financial assistance (SFA) and the amount of SFA.

PBGC’s Freedom of Information Act Guide

Provides guidelines for changes to certain assumptions that multiemployer plans may use for purposes of determining eligibility for special financial assistance (SFA) and the amount of SFA.

Guidance on the timing of premium payments for plan years beginning in 2025, which, because of a provision in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, are generally due a month earlier than the due date provided in PBGC’s Payment of Premiums regulation (29 CFR part 4007).

Provides guidelines for changes to certain assumptions that multiemployer plans may use for purposes of determining the amount of SFA.

Answers common questions about eligibility and applications for partitions of multiemployer plans.

Answers commonly asked questions about PBGC’s Risk Mitigation & Early Warning Program.

Answers common questions about reasonable administrative expenses of insolvent multiemployer plans.

Addresses how to determine whether a pension plan is covered by PBGC and explains the common exemptions from coverage.

PBGC’s plan termination insurance program covers retirees in pay status.

Discusses the method used by PBGC to calculate interest on premium underpayments.

An annuity contract owned by a pension plan is the plan asset, not the assets held by the insurer under the contract. Because benefits payable under the annuity contract are revocable upon termination, assets held under the contract are included in the value of the contract.

PBGC guarantees basis plan benefits only and does not guarantee the payment of non-basic plan benefits. 

Employer created by state law is a political subdivision of state with authority to tax. Plan meets the Governmental plan exemption from coverage.

The obligation to pay premiums ceases when plan assets are distributed under priority categories 1- 6 without regard to whether there are residual assets.

Addresses the calculation of reallocation liability when calculating withdrawal liability under the "presumptive method" and whether to include the unfunded vested benefits of an employer that is subject to the construction rule.

Not appropriate to charge against plan assets legal fees arising from plan termination.

Once irrevocable commitments are purchased, PBGC no longer guarantees the benefits.

Company owners are physicians and company provides medical services. Plan is exempt as a Professional Servicer Employer plan.

Original plan is a Title IV covered plan. Successor plan is also a Title IV covered plan. Successor plan does not qualify as an exempt plan under the Professional Service plan exemption even though successor plan has fewer than 25 employees.