{"identifier":"/us/usc/t29/s1426","title":29,"num":"\u00a7\u202f1426.","heading":"Insolvent plans","text":"\u00a7\u202f1426.\nInsolvent plans\n(a)\nSuspension of payments of benefits; conditions, amount, etc.\nNotwithstanding sections 1053 and 1054 of this title, in any case in which benefit payments under an insolvent multiemployer plan exceed the resource benefit level, any such payments of benefits which are not basic benefits shall be suspended, in accordance with this section, to the extent necessary to reduce the sum of such payments and the payments of such basic benefits to the greater of the resource benefit level or the level of basic benefits, unless an alternative procedure is prescribed by the corporation under\nsection 1322a(g)(5) of this title\n(b)\nDetermination of insolvency status for plan year; definitions\nFor purposes of this section, for a plan year\u2014\n(1) a multiemployer plan is insolvent if the plan\u2019s available resources are not sufficient to pay benefits under the plan when due for the plan year, or if the plan is determined to be insolvent under subsection (d);\n(2) \u201cresource benefit level\u201d means the level of monthly benefits determined under subsections (c)(1) and (3) and (d)(3) to be the highest level which can be paid out of the plan\u2019s available resources;\n(3) \u201cavailable resources\u201d means the plan\u2019s cash, marketable assets, contributions, withdrawal liability payments, and earnings, less reasonable administrative expenses and amounts owed for such plan year to the corporation under\nsection 1431(b)(2) of this title\n(4) \u201cinsolvency year\u201d means a plan year in which a plan is insolvent.\n(c)\nDetermination by plan sponsor of plan in critical status of resource benefit level of plan for each insolvency year; uniform application of suspension of benefits; adjustments of benefit payments\n(1) The plan sponsor of a plan in critical status, as described in subsection\n1\n1 So in original. Probably should be \u201csection\u201d.\n(2)\n(A) The suspension of benefit payments under this section shall, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, apply in substantially uniform proportions to the benefits of all persons in pay status under the plan, except that the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe rules under which benefit suspensions for different participant groups may be varied equitably to reflect variations in contribution rates and other relevant factors including differences in negotiated levels of financial support for plan benefit obligations.\n(B) For purposes of this paragraph\u2014\n(i) the term \u201cperson in pay status\u201d means\u2014\n(I) a participant or beneficiary on the last day of the base plan year who, at any time during such year, was paid an early, late, normal, or disability retirement benefit (or a death benefit related to a retirement benefit), and\n(II) to the extent provided in regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, any other person who is entitled to such a benefit under the plan.\n(ii) the base plan year for any plan year is\u2014\n(I) if there is a relevant collective bargaining agreement, the last plan year ending at least 6 months before the relevant effective date, or\n(II) if there is no relevant collective bargaining agreement, the last plan year ending at least 12 months before the beginning of the plan year.\n(iii) a relevant collective bargaining agreement is a collective bargaining agreement\u2014\n(I) which is in effect for at least 6 months during the plan year, and\n(II) which has not been in effect for more than 36 months as of the end of the plan year.\n(iv) the relevant effective date is the earliest of the effective dates for the relevant collective bargaining agreements.\n(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (2), if a plan sponsor determines in writing a resource benefit level for a plan year which is below the level of basic benefits, the payment of all benefits other than basic benefits must be suspended for that plan year.\n(4)\n(A) If, by the end of an insolvency year, the plan sponsor determines in writing that the plan\u2019s available resources in that insolvency year could have supported benefit payments above the resource benefit level for that insolvency year, the plan sponsor shall distribute the excess resources to the participants and beneficiaries who received benefit payments from the plan in that insolvency year, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury.\n(B) For purposes of this paragraph, the term \u201cexcess resources\u201d means available resources above the amount necessary to support the resource benefit level, but no greater than the amount necessary to pay benefits for the plan year at the benefit levels under the plan.\n(5) If, by the end of an insolvency year, any benefit has not been paid at the resource benefit level, amounts up to the resource benefit level which were unpaid shall be distributed to the participants and beneficiaries, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, to the extent possible taking into account the plan\u2019s total available resources in that insolvency year.\n(6) Except as provided in paragraph (4) or (5), a plan is not required to make retroactive benefit payments with respect to that portion of a benefit which was suspended under this section.\n(d)\nApplicability and determinations respecting plan assets; time for determinations of resource benefit level and level of basic benefits\n(1) As of the end of the first plan year in which a plan is in critical status, as described in subsection\n1\n2\n2 So in original.\n1\n2\n(2) If, at any time, the plan sponsor of a plan in critical status, as described in subsection\n1\n(3) The plan sponsor of a plan in critical status, as described in subsection\n1\n(4) For purposes of this subsection, the value of plan assets shall be the value of the available plan assets determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury.\n(e)\nNotice, etc., requirements of plan sponsor of plan in critical status regarding insolvency and resource benefit levels\n(1) If the plan sponsor of a plan in critical status, as described in subsection\n(A) notify the Secretary of the Treasury,\n3\n3 So in original. The comma probably should be \u201cand\u201d.\nsection 1021(f)(1) of this title\n(B) inform the parties described in\nsection 1021(f)(1) of this title\n(2) No later than 2 months before the first day of each insolvency year, the plan sponsor of a plan in critical status, as described in subsection\n1\n(3) In any case in which the plan sponsor anticipates that the resource benefit level for an insolvency year may not exceed the level of basic benefits, the plan sponsor shall notify the corporation.\n(4) Notice required by this subsection shall be given in accordance with regulations prescribed by the corporation, except that notice to the Secretary of the Treasury shall be given in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury.\n(5) The corporation may prescribe a time other than the time prescribed by this section for the making of a determination or the filing of a notice under this section.\n(f)\nFinancial assistance from corporation; conditions and criteria applicable\n(1) If the plan sponsor of an insolvent plan, for which the resource benefit level is above the level of basic benefits, anticipates that, for any month in an insolvency year, the plan will not have funds sufficient to pay basic benefits, the plan sponsor may apply for financial assistance from the corporation under\nsection 1431 of this title\n(2) A plan sponsor who has determined a resource benefit level for an insolvency year which is below the level of basic benefits shall apply for financial assistance from the corporation under\nsection 1431 of this title\n(g)\nApplication of subsections (a) and (c)\nSubsections (a) and (c) shall not apply to a plan that, for the plan year, is operating under\nsection 1085(e)(9) of this title","url":"https://projectusc.org/usc/t29/s1426.html","content":[{"t":"sec","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426","children":[{"t":"num","text":"\u00a7\u202f1426."},{"t":"heading","text":"Insolvent plans"},{"t":"subsec","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/a","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(a)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Suspension of payments of benefits; conditions, amount, etc."},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"Notwithstanding sections 1053 and 1054 of this title, in any case in which benefit payments under an insolvent multiemployer plan exceed the resource benefit level, any such payments of benefits which are not basic benefits shall be suspended, in accordance with this section, to the extent necessary to reduce the sum of such payments and the payments of such basic benefits to the greater of the resource benefit level or the level of basic benefits, unless an alternative procedure is prescribed by the corporation under ","children":[{"t":"ref","text":"section 1322a(g)(5) of this title","href":"/us/usc/t29/s1322a/g/5","tail":"."}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subsec","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/b","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(b)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Determination of insolvency status for plan year; definitions"},{"t":"chapeau","text":"For purposes of this section, for a plan year\u2014"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/b/1","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(1)"},{"t":"content","text":" a multiemployer plan is insolvent if the plan\u2019s available resources are not sufficient to pay benefits under the plan when due for the plan year, or if the plan is determined to be insolvent under subsection (d);","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/b/2","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(2)"},{"t":"content","text":" \u201cresource benefit level\u201d means the level of monthly benefits determined under subsections (c)(1) and (3) and (d)(3) to be the highest level which can be paid out of the plan\u2019s available resources;","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/b/3","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(3)"},{"t":"content","text":" \u201cavailable resources\u201d means the plan\u2019s cash, marketable assets, contributions, withdrawal liability payments, and earnings, less reasonable administrative expenses and amounts owed for such plan year to the corporation under ","children":[{"t":"ref","text":"section 1431(b)(2) of this title","href":"/us/usc/t29/s1431/b/2","tail":"; and"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/b/4","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(4)"},{"t":"content","text":" \u201cinsolvency year\u201d means a plan year in which a plan is insolvent.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subsec","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/c","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(c)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Determination by plan sponsor of plan in critical status of resource benefit level of plan for each insolvency year; uniform application of suspension of benefits; adjustments of benefit payments"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/c/1","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(1)"},{"t":"content","text":" The plan sponsor of a plan in critical status, as described in subsection\u202f","children":[{"t":"ref","text":"1"},{"t":"num","text":"1","tail":"\u202fSo in original. Probably should be \u201csection\u201d."},{"t":"text","text":"\u202fSo in original. Probably should be \u201csection\u201d.","tail":" 1085(b)(2) of this title, shall determine in writing the plan\u2019s resource benefit level for each insolvency year, based on the plan sponsor\u2019s reasonable projection of the plan\u2019s available resources and the benefits payable under the plan."}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/c/2","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(2)"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/c/2/A","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(A)"},{"t":"content","text":" The suspension of benefit payments under this section shall, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, apply in substantially uniform proportions to the benefits of all persons in pay status under the plan, except that the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe rules under which benefit suspensions for different participant groups may be varied equitably to reflect variations in contribution rates and other relevant factors including differences in negotiated levels of financial support for plan benefit obligations.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/c/2/B","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(B)"},{"t":"chapeau","text":" For purposes of this paragraph\u2014"},{"t":"clause","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/c/2/B/i","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(i)"},{"t":"chapeau","text":" the term \u201cperson in pay status\u201d means\u2014"},{"t":"subclause","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/c/2/B/i/I","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(I)"},{"t":"content","text":" a participant or beneficiary on the last day of the base plan year who, at any time during such year, was paid an early, late, normal, or disability retirement benefit (or a death benefit related to a retirement benefit), and","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subclause","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/c/2/B/i/II","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(II)"},{"t":"content","text":" to the extent provided in regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, any other person who is entitled to such a benefit under the plan.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"clause","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/c/2/B/ii","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(ii)"},{"t":"chapeau","text":" the base plan year for any plan year is\u2014"},{"t":"subclause","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/c/2/B/ii/I","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(I)"},{"t":"content","text":" if there is a relevant collective bargaining agreement, the last plan year ending at least 6 months before the relevant effective date, or","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subclause","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/c/2/B/ii/II","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(II)"},{"t":"content","text":" if there is no relevant collective bargaining agreement, the last plan year ending at least 12 months before the beginning of the plan year.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"clause","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/c/2/B/iii","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(iii)"},{"t":"chapeau","text":" a relevant collective bargaining agreement is a collective bargaining agreement\u2014"},{"t":"subclause","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/c/2/B/iii/I","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(I)"},{"t":"content","text":" which is in effect for at least 6 months during the plan year, and","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subclause","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/c/2/B/iii/II","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(II)"},{"t":"content","text":" which has not been in effect for more than 36 months as of the end of the plan year.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"clause","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/c/2/B/iv","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(iv)"},{"t":"content","text":" the relevant effective date is the earliest of the effective dates for the relevant collective bargaining agreements.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/c/3","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(3)"},{"t":"content","text":" Notwithstanding paragraph (2), if a plan sponsor determines in writing a resource benefit level for a plan year which is below the level of basic benefits, the payment of all benefits other than basic benefits must be suspended for that plan year.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/c/4","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(4)"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/c/4/A","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(A)"},{"t":"content","text":" If, by the end of an insolvency year, the plan sponsor determines in writing that the plan\u2019s available resources in that insolvency year could have supported benefit payments above the resource benefit level for that insolvency year, the plan sponsor shall distribute the excess resources to the participants and beneficiaries who received benefit payments from the plan in that insolvency year, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/c/4/B","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(B)"},{"t":"content","text":" For purposes of this paragraph, the term \u201cexcess resources\u201d means available resources above the amount necessary to support the resource benefit level, but no greater than the amount necessary to pay benefits for the plan year at the benefit levels under the plan.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/c/5","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(5)"},{"t":"content","text":" If, by the end of an insolvency year, any benefit has not been paid at the resource benefit level, amounts up to the resource benefit level which were unpaid shall be distributed to the participants and beneficiaries, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, to the extent possible taking into account the plan\u2019s total available resources in that insolvency year.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/c/6","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(6)"},{"t":"content","text":" Except as provided in paragraph (4) or (5), a plan is not required to make retroactive benefit payments with respect to that portion of a benefit which was suspended under this section.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subsec","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/d","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(d)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Applicability and determinations respecting plan assets; time for determinations of resource benefit level and level of basic benefits"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/d/1","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(1)"},{"t":"content","text":" As of the end of the first plan year in which a plan is in critical status, as described in subsection\u202f","children":[{"t":"text","text":"1","tail":" 1085(b)(2) of this title,,"},{"t":"ref","text":"2"},{"t":"num","text":"2","tail":"\u202fSo in original."},{"t":"text","text":"\u202fSo in original.","tail":" and at least every 3 plan years thereafter (unless the plan is no longer in critical status, as described in subsection\u202f"},{"t":"text","text":"1","tail":" 1085(b)(2) of this title,),"},{"t":"ref","text":"2","tail":" the plan sponsor shall compare the value of plan assets for that plan year with the total amount of benefit payments made under the plan for that plan year. Unless the plan sponsor determines that the value of plan assets exceeds 3 times the total amount of benefit payments, the plan sponsor shall determine whether the plan will be insolvent in any of the next 5 plan years. If the plan sponsor makes such a determination that the plan will be insolvent in any of the next 5 plan years, the plan sponsor shall make the comparison under this paragraph at least annually until the plan sponsor makes a determination that the plan will not be insolvent in any of the next 5 plan years."}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/d/2","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(2)"},{"t":"content","text":" If, at any time, the plan sponsor of a plan in critical status, as described in subsection\u202f","children":[{"t":"text","text":"1","tail":" 1085(b)(2) of this title, reasonably determines, taking into account the plan\u2019s recent and anticipated financial experience, that the plan\u2019s available resources are not sufficient to pay benefits under the plan when due for the next plan year, the plan sponsor shall make such determination available to interested parties."}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/d/3","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(3)"},{"t":"content","text":" The plan sponsor of a plan in critical status, as described in subsection\u202f","children":[{"t":"text","text":"1","tail":" 1085(b)(2) of this title, shall determine in writing for each insolvency year the resource benefit level and the level of basic benefits no later than 3 months before the insolvency year."}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/d/4","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(4)"},{"t":"content","text":" For purposes of this subsection, the value of plan assets shall be the value of the available plan assets determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subsec","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/e","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(e)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Notice, etc., requirements of plan sponsor of plan in critical status regarding insolvency and resource benefit levels"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/e/1","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(1)"},{"t":"chapeau","text":" If the plan sponsor of a plan in critical status, as described in subsection\u202f","children":[{"t":"text","text":"1","tail":" 1085(b)(2) of this title, determines under subsection (d)(1) or (2) that the plan may become insolvent (within the meaning of subsection (b)(1)), the plan sponsor shall\u2014"}]},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/e/1/A","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(A)"},{"t":"content","text":" notify the Secretary of the Treasury,","children":[{"t":"ref","text":"3"},{"t":"num","text":"3","tail":"\u202fSo in original. The comma probably should be \u201cand\u201d."},{"t":"text","text":"\u202fSo in original. The comma probably should be \u201cand\u201d.","tail":" the parties described in "},{"t":"ref","text":"section 1021(f)(1) of this title","href":"/us/usc/t29/s1021/f/1","tail":" of that determination, and"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/e/1/B","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(B)"},{"t":"content","text":" inform the parties described in ","children":[{"t":"ref","text":"section 1021(f)(1) of this title","href":"/us/usc/t29/s1021/f/1","tail":" that if insolvency occurs certain benefit payments will be suspended, but that basic benefits will continue to be paid."}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/e/2","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(2)"},{"t":"content","text":" No later than 2 months before the first day of each insolvency year, the plan sponsor of a plan in critical status, as described in subsection\u202f","children":[{"t":"text","text":"1","tail":" 1085(b)(2) of this title, shall notify the Secretary of the Treasury, the corporation, and the parties described in paragraph (1)(B) of the resource benefit level determined in writing for that insolvency year."}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/e/3","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(3)"},{"t":"content","text":" In any case in which the plan sponsor anticipates that the resource benefit level for an insolvency year may not exceed the level of basic benefits, the plan sponsor shall notify the corporation.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/e/4","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(4)"},{"t":"content","text":" Notice required by this subsection shall be given in accordance with regulations prescribed by the corporation, except that notice to the Secretary of the Treasury shall be given in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/e/5","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(5)"},{"t":"content","text":" The corporation may prescribe a time other than the time prescribed by this section for the making of a determination or the filing of a notice under this section.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subsec","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/f","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(f)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Financial assistance from corporation; conditions and criteria applicable"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/f/1","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(1)"},{"t":"content","text":" If the plan sponsor of an insolvent plan, for which the resource benefit level is above the level of basic benefits, anticipates that, for any month in an insolvency year, the plan will not have funds sufficient to pay basic benefits, the plan sponsor may apply for financial assistance from the corporation under ","children":[{"t":"ref","text":"section 1431 of this title","href":"/us/usc/t29/s1431","tail":"."}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/f/2","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(2)"},{"t":"content","text":" A plan sponsor who has determined a resource benefit level for an insolvency year which is below the level of basic benefits shall apply for financial assistance from the corporation under ","children":[{"t":"ref","text":"section 1431 of this title","href":"/us/usc/t29/s1431","tail":"."}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subsec","id":"/us/usc/t29/s1426/g","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(g)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Application of subsections (a) and (c)"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"Subsections (a) and (c) shall not apply to a plan that, for the plan year, is operating under ","children":[{"t":"ref","text":"section 1085(e)(9) of this title","href":"/us/usc/t29/s1085/e/9","tail":", regarding benefit suspensions by certain multiemployer plans in critical and declining status."}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"text","text":"\n"},{"t":"text","text":"\n"}]}]}