You are here

Guidance Document Database

The documents listed below are PBGC’s guidance documents. The contents of these documents do not have the force and effect of law, unless expressly authorized by statute or incorporated into a contract, and are not meant to bind the public in any way. These documents are intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies.

If you would like to request the withdrawal or modification of an existing guidance document, please submit your request, including your contact information, to the General Counsel at GuidanceComments@pbgc.gov or at Regulatory Affairs Division, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, Office of the General Counsel, 1200 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005–4026.

Title Issuance Date Agency Identifiersort ascending Topics Summary Posted Date
Opinion Letter 77-139 4-13-1977 PBGC Op Let 77-139 Coverage, Substantial owners plan A plan with a participant who is the sole stockholder meets the Substantial Owner exemption from plan coverage under Title IV. 2-28-2020
Opinion Letter 77-136 3-29-1977 PBGC Op Let 77-136 Benefit guarantee, Disability benefits Disability benefits guaranteed where participants satisfied plan conditions necessary to receive the benefit before the date of plan termination. 2-28-2020
Opinion Letter 77-131 2-11-1977 PBGC Op Let 77-131 Employer liability PBGC examines financial information of an employer and all trades or businesses under the same common control to assess the employer’s hardship or necessity for deferred payments to meet liability. 2-28-2020
Opinion Letter 77-129 2-9-1977 PBGC Op Let 77-129 Residual assets Each participant is entitled to a share of the excess plan assets where the plan does not provide for return of excess assets to employer upon plan termination. 2-28-2020
Opinion Letter 77-128 2-4-1977 PBGC Op Let 77-128 Coverage, Substantial owners plan The only participant entitled to be credited with service or receive a benefit under the plan has continuously fallen within the definition of a "substantial owner.” 2-28-2020
Opinion Letter 77-126 2-3-1977 PBGC Op Let 77-126 Coverage, Governmental plan Plan maintained pursuant to a contract with a federal agency is a Governmental plan exempt from Title IV coverage. 2-28-2020
Opinion Letter 77-124 1-21-1977 PBGC Op Let 77-124 Premiums, Refund, Termination PBGC did not issue a premium refund for plan that it found was not terminated. 2-28-2020
Opinion Letter 76-96 8-2-1976 PBGC Op Let 76-96 Coverage, Professional service employer plan Employer is an association of medical doctors, principal business is administrative in nature. Plan does not meet the Professional Service Employer plan exemption. 2-28-2020
Opinion Letter 76-95 8-21-1976 PBGC Op Let 76-95 Coverage, Governmental plan Employer created by state law is a political subdivision of state with authority to tax. Plan meets the Governmental plan exemption from coverage. 2-28-2020
Opinion Letter 76-93 7-23-1976 PBGC Op Let 76-93 Disability benefits Disability benefits that become payable after the date of plan termination are not guaranteed. 2-28-2020
Opinion Letter 76-91 7-9-1976 PBGC Op Let 76-91 Individual account plan A plan amendment that preserves a defined benefit does not allow a plan to fit under the individual account exemption from coverage. 2-28-2020
Opinion Letter 76-09 1-14-1976 PBGC Op Let 76-9 Controlled groups Discusses considerations PBGC would apply in determining whether parent-subsidiary group created a single plan or multiple separate plans managed under a single trust. 2-28-2020
Opinion Letter 76-86 6-25-1976 PBGC Op Let 76-86 Coverage, Individual account plan Plan is not an Individual account. Plan is not exempt from Title IV coverage. 2-28-2020
Opinion Letter 76-85 6-21-1976 PBGC Op Let 76-85 Benefit guarantee PBGC is precluded from guaranteeing expanded benefits to which participants would become entitled to (become nonforfeitable) upon the plan’s termination. 2-28-2020
Opinion Letter 76-76 6-8-1976 PBGC Op Let 76-76 Termination Addresses a plan’s notice of intent to terminate, date of plan termination, and the ability to terminate the plan by agreement. 2-28-2020
Opinion Letter 76-74 6-3-1976 PBGC Op Let 76-74 Coverage Plan is not an individual account plan. Plan is not be exempt from Title IV coverage. 2-28-2020
Opinion Letter 76-73 6-2-1976 PBGC Op Let 76-73 Benefit guarantee Reaffirms PBGC’s prior review of its determination that a severance benefit provided by the plan is not a guaranteed benefit because it is not a benefit that is payable as an annuity or one or more payments related thereto. 2-28-2020
Opinion Letter 76-72 5-28-1976 PBGC Op Let 76-72 Benefit guarantee Provides that because guaranteed benefits are determined at time of plan termination, a clause in a plan that provides for the cessation of benefits in pay status of participants who violate prohibitions against certain competitive employment will be determined at such time that the clause becomes applicable to a participant. 2-28-2020
Opinion Letter 76-70 5-24-1976 PBGC Op Let 76-70 Termination, Allocation of assets Discusses mechanics of converting defined benefit plan to an individual account plan. 2-28-2020
Opinion Letter 76-07 1-14-1976 PBGC Op Let 76-7 Coverage, Individual account plan Title IV does not cover Individual account plans or welfare plans. 2-28-2020
Opinion Letter 76-69 5-19-1976 PBGC Op Let 76-69 Benefit guarantee Terminated, vested benefits are guaranteed when all conditions under the plan necessary to establish entitlement to the benefit at a specified age are satisfied even though participant has yet to attain retirement age on the date of plan termination. 2-28-2020
Opinion Letter 76-63 5-6-1976 PBGC Op Let 76-63 Coverage, tax qualification Plan is a pay as you go plan. Plan is not tax qualified and thus is not covered under Title IV. 2-28-2020
Opinion Letter 76-61 4-30-1976 PBGC Op Let 76-61 Coverage, Professional service employer plan A physician-owned company is a professional service employer plan. 2-28-2020
Opinion Letter 76-60 4-30-1976 PBGC Op Let 76-60 Residual assets Any amendment to a terminating or terminated plan to allow a return of excess plan assets to the employer conflicts with direct statutory provisions and legislative intent. 2-28-2020
Opinion Letter 76-58 4-29-1976 PBGC Op Let 76-58 Coverage, Individual account plan Plan is an Individual account plan and is not a covered plan under Title IV. 2-28-2020

Pages