PBGC Missing Participant Program to Include 401(k) Plans and Certain Other Plans That Terminate after 2017

The PBGC issued a proposed rule that would expand its existing missing participants program to cover terminated defined contribution plans, such as 401(k) and profit-sharing plans, as well as certain other plans not currently covered under the program, that voluntarily elect to participate. Under the program, for a low one-time fee, and following a diligent search, the terminating plan may transfer the account balances or accrued benefits of all missing participants to the PBGC. The PBGC will then maintain a centralized, online searchable directory of the missing participants and periodically search for the missing participants. In the proposed rule, the PBGC also modifies the criteria for a participant to be considered ''missing'' and provides specific diligent search rules for plans to attempt to locate missing participants. Read the proposed rule.