Tag Archive for: Distribution

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401(k) Plans, Distributions and Spousal Consent

 “Do 401(k) plans require the spouse of a plan participant to consent to a plan distribution?” 

ERISA consultants at the Retirement Learning Center (RLC) Resource Desk regularly receive calls from financial advisors on a broad array of technical topics related to IRAs, qualified retirement plans and other types of retirement savings and income plans, including nonqualified plans, stock options, and Social Security and Medicare.  We bring Case of the Week to you to highlight the most relevant topics affecting your business.

A recent call with a financial advisor from Minnesota is representative of a common inquiry related to distributions, spousal consent and 401(k) plans.

Highlights of Discussion

  • The short answer is, “maybe.” It depends on whether the 401(k) plan is subject to the annuity distribution requirements under the Retirement Equity Act of 1984 (REA) or is considered a “REA safe-harbor” plan.
  • REA, in part, provided spousal protections with respect to defined contribution (DC) plan distribution options, and defaulted most plan disbursements for married couples to qualified joint and survivor annuities (QJSAs) and qualified preretirement survivor annuities (QPSAs), unless the participant and spouse executed certain waivers.
  • 401(k) plans that are subject to the REA annuity mandates require plan administrators to obtain written spousal consent to distribute plan benefits in a form other than an annuity [Treasury Regulation (Treas. Reg.) 401(a)-20, Q&A 17]. REA added the requirement to have spousal consent to take a distribution so that the nonemployee spouse would have some control over the form of benefit the participant chooses and would be, at the very least, aware that retirement benefits existed.
  • Regs at 1.417(e)-1(b)(2) and 1.401(a)-20, Q&A 27 provide for the following spousal consent exceptions for REA plans:
  1. For distributions made on or after October 17, 2000, a spouse’s consent is not required if the present value of the participant’s nonforfeitable accrued benefit, including both employer and employee contributions, on the date of the distribution is ≤ $5,000;
  2. If the plan administrator is satisfied there is no spouse or the spouse cannot be located;
  3. If the participant has a court order certifying his or her abandonment; or is legally separated;
  4. If the spouse is incompetent, the legal guardian can provide consent, even if the legal guardian is the participant;
  5. The plan must make required minimum distributions even though the employee, or spouse where applicable, fail to consent to the distribution (see Treas. Reg.401(a)(9)-8, Q&A 4).
  • REA safe-harbor plans, in contrast, are DC plans that are drafted to be exempt from the REA annuity requirements. The plan document will state whether it is a REA safe-harbor plan. Many, but not all, 401(k) plans are REA safe-harbor plans. Plan administrators are not required to obtain spousal consent for a distribution if the 401(k) plan is a REA safe harbor plan.
  • The criteria to be a REA safe-harbor plan are found in Reg. 1.401(a)-20, Q&A 3:
  • At death, a participant’s vested benefit must be payable to the spouse unless the participant is not married or the spouse consents to another named beneficiary;
  • The plan participant cannot elect payments in the form of an annuity;
  • The plan administrator separately accounts for and continues to apply the REA rules to amounts transferred from other plans subject to the REA rules (e.g., money purchase pension plans or target benefit plans).

Conclusion

Some 401(k) plans are subject to REA and, therefore, require distributions to be in the form of an annuity unless the plan administrator obtains proper participant and spousal waivers. Some plans are REA safe-harbor and do not require the plan administrator to obtain spousal consent for a distribution. The terms of the plan document will specify what type of plan it is.

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In-Service Distributions from Gov’t. 457(b) Plans

“Can a governmental 457(b) plan permit participants to take plan withdrawals while they are still working?”

ERISA consultants at the Retirement Learning Center (RLC) Resource Desk regularly receive calls from financial advisors on a broad array of technical topics related to IRAs, qualified retirement plans and other types of retirement savings and income plans, including nonqualified plans, stock options, and Social Security and Medicare.  We bring Case of the Week to you to highlight the most relevant topics affecting your business.

A recent call with a financial advisor from North Carolina is representative of a common inquiry related to in-service distributions from retirement plans.

Highlights of the Discussion

Yes, as a result of a law change effective in 2020, governmental 457(b) plans now have the ability to offer in-service distributions to participants starting at age 59 ½, if the sponsor has chosen to implement the provision.

Allowing age-59 ½ distributions was a significant change brought about by the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act for plan years beginning after December 31, 2019. [See Division M: Bipartisan American Miners Act (Section 104) of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020) for authorizing language.]

In the past, 457(b) plan participants could only access their plan assets upon

  • Reaching the age for required minimum distributions,
  • Severing employment,
  • Experiencing an unforeseeable emergency,
  • Qualifying for a one-time cash-out (i.e., the account balance was $5,000 or less, and there had been no employee contributions for at least two years),
  • Termination of the plan, or
  • Divorce, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order.

Governmental 457(b) plan sponsors who offer these early withdrawals can implement them immediately, and amend their plan documents to authorize them later. Formal amendments to incorporate age-59 ½, in-service distributions are due by the end of the 2024 plan year.

A governmental 457(b) plan distribution would be taxable to the recipient, generally, unless the individual rolled it over to another eligible plan or IRA.

Conclusion

The list of distributable events for governmental 457(b) plans now includes in-service distributions at age 59 ½ for sponsors that choose to offer them.

 

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Adding In-Service Distributions to a Company’s Retirement Plan

“What are the considerations around adding an in-service distribution option to a company’s qualified retirement plan?”

ERISA consultants at the Retirement Learning Center Resource Desk regularly receive calls from financial advisors on a broad array of technical topics related to IRAs, qualified retirement plans and other types of retirement savings and income plans, including nonqualified plans, stock options, and Social Security and Medicare. We bring Case of the Week to you to highlight the most relevant topics affecting your business. A recent call with a financial advisor from New Jersey is representative of a common inquiry related to in-service distributions from qualified retirement plans.

Highlights of the Discussion

There are several important considerations surrounding adding an in-service distribution option to a company’s qualified retirement plan, including, but not limited to,

  • Type of plan,
  • The process to add,
  • The parameters for taking,
  • Potential taxes and penalties to recipients,
  • Nondiscrimination in availability, and
  • The effect on top-heavy determination.

Several types of retirement plans can offer in-service distributions, including 401(k), profit sharing, employee stock ownership and even defined benefit plans. If a plan sponsor desires an in-service distribution option, it must be formally written into the plan document, either when adopted or later through a plan amendment. The plan sponsor would need to check with its document provider for the exact adoption or amendment steps. For example, adding an in-service distribution option to a prototype 401(k) plan can be as easy as checking a box on the adoption agreement, selecting an effective date, signing the amendment and notifying participants of the change.

There are pros and cons to including an in-service distribution option in a plan. The pros include increased participant control of plan assets, and a higher level of participant satisfaction with the plan. The cons include the potential for greater administrative burdens and cost to the plan sponsor as a result of an increase in the number of distribution requests, potential taxes and penalties for the distribution recipient, and depletion of savings meant for retirement income.

Plan participants need to understand the taxation rules that apply to in-service distributions. Any pre-tax amounts that are distributed from a plan prior to age 59½ will be subject to taxation and, possibly, an early distribution penalty tax, unless an exception applies. Completing a rollover of the in-service distribution either directly or indirectly within 60 days of receipt is one way to delay any tax impact.

If a plan sponsor wants to add an in-service distribution option, it can choose to make the option very liberal or attach restrictions such as a requirement for a participant to reach a certain age, or complete a set amount of service. It is important to note that the IRS does not allow employee pre-tax elective deferrals to be distributed prior to age 59½, nor defined benefit assets to be distributed prior to age 62 under the in-service distribution rules. The plan sponsor could also limit access to a particular contribution source or sources (e.g., matching contributions, after-tax, etc.).

Distributions are part of the benefits, rights and features of a plan under Treasury Regulation §1.401(a)(4)-4. Therefore, if a plan offers in-service distributions, it must do so in a nondiscriminatory manner (i.e., not make them disproportionately more available to highly compensated employees (HCEs) than nonHCEs).

Finally, keep in mind that in-service distributions from a qualified retirement plan can affect top-heavy determination for up to five years. A plan is top-heavy if the key employees own more than 60 percent of the plan’s assets or benefits on the determination date. In-service distributions for active employees are added back to account balances if the distribution occurred within the five-year period ending on the determination date (Treasury Regulation §1.416-1, T-30)).

Conclusion

When the desire to give plan participants greater control of their plan assets exists, plan sponsors and participants may look to in-service distributions of retirement plan assets as a possible solution. But there are several important considerations surrounding such a plan feature. Financial advisors can help educate their clients on the pros and cons of adding, or changing the terms of an existing, in-service distribution option.

 

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Sham termination of employment and distributions

“What are the rules regarding firing an employee, allowing the individual to take a distribution from his 401(k) account and then rehiring the same individual? Is it a valid distribution? If not, is the plan in jeopardy of processing an impermissible withdrawal?”

ERISA consultants at the Retirement Learning Center Resource Desk regularly receive calls from financial advisors on a broad array of technical topics related to IRAs, qualified retirement plans and other types of retirement savings and income plans, including nonqualified plans, Social Security and Medicare. We bring Case of the Week to you to highlight the most relevant topics affecting your business. A recent call with a financial advisor from West Virginia is representative of a common inquiry related to severance of employment and distributions.

Highlights of the Discussion

The IRS could view the firing and re-hiring of an employee who has taken a distribution of plan assets due to separation of service or severance of employment[1] as either a “sham” or a “bona fide” termination depending on the facts and circumstances. Qualified retirement plan assets, typically, are not distributable until the participant incurs a distribution triggering event as outlined in the governing plan document, for example, separation of service or severance of employment (see pages 196-197 from the pdf for Revenue Ruling 56-214). In the case of a sham termination, the processing of an impermissible distribution without a legitimate distribution triggering event is an operational failure that, potentially, could put the plan at risk of disqualification, resulting in possible adverse tax consequences to the participant and the employer (see Private Letter Ruling 2000-0245).

There is no definitive rule prohibiting the rehiring of an employee who has received a plan distribution as a result of leaving employment. For example, at least one court ruled that a participant had a true termination, even though he returned to employment with his former employer five months after he retired, because at the time of his retirement he had no intention of returning to work and was only able to return to employment following an unforeseen change in circumstances (see Barrus v. United States, 23 AFTR 2d 990 (DC NC 1969)).  And in Revenue Ruling 69-647 (see pages 100-101 of Internal Revenue Cumulative Bulletin 69[2] , the IRS ruled that a senior executive who retired from full-time employment and continued to render services to the same company, but on a part-time basis as an independent contractor, was considered to have terminated employment.

However, if the IRS determines the termination is a ruse merely to facilitate a distribution not otherwise available, and both the plan sponsor and participant know in advance that the fired individual will be rehired, the IRS may view such action as a sham termination. The IRS specifically “does not endorse a prearranged termination and rehire as constituting a full retirement” (see the preamble to REG-114726-04 ).

The basic rule is that, to receive a distribution from a 401(k) plan on account of a severance of employment, the participant must have experienced a bona fide termination of employment in which the employer/employee relationship is completely severed.

Facts and circumstances the IRS will consider include the following:

  1. Did the plan sponsor follow the terms of the plan document? (Allowing a distribution as a result of a sham termination would constitute a failure to follow the terms of the plan document because plan assets were distributable in a situation not provided for under the terms of the plan).
  2. Did the termination of employment and processing of the distribution follow all the established administrative procedures?
  3. How long was the time interval between termination and rehire?
  4. What documentation exists to substantiate the termination and distribution?
  5. Did the alleged sham termination involve a highly compensated employee?

Conclusion

A plan sponsor and participant(s) who collude to stage a firing/re-hiring scenario to facilitate a qualified plan distribution are potentially putting the qualified status of the plan at risk. Under investigation, the IRS could determine the termination is a sham and impose sanctions.

Any information provided is for informational purposes only. It cannot be used for the purposes of avoiding penalties and taxes. Consumers should consult with their tax advisor or attorney regarding their specific situation.

[1] Prior to January 1, 2002, most plans used the term “separation from service” rather than “severance of employment.” Separation of service carried the “same desk rule,” which prevented many 401(k) plans from making distributions to former employees who continued working at the same job but for a different employer as the result of a merger, acquisition or similar transaction. The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 allowed plan sponsors to replace the separation from service/same desk requirement to allow for distribution upon a participant’s severance from employment with the employer sponsoring the plan.

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Changes to hardship distributions for 2019

“Are the rules for hardship distributions from 401(k) plans changing?”

ERISA consultants at the Retirement Learning Center Resource Desk regularly receive calls from financial advisors on a broad array of technical topics related to IRAs, qualified retirement plans and other types of retirement savings and income plans, including nonqualified plans, Social Security and Medicare. We bring Case of the Week to you to highlight the most relevant topics affecting your business. A recent call with a financial advisor from Illinois is representative of a common inquiry related to hardship distributions.

Highlights of the Discussion

Yes, changes to the hardship distribution rules for 401(k) plans as a result of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 will take effect for the 2019 plan year (e.g., as of January 1, 2019, for calendar year plans). There are three primary changes to the current hardship distribution rules.

Participants will

  1. Not be required to take plan loans before a hardship distribution is granted;
  2. Not need to suspend their employee salary deferrals for six months following a hardship withdrawal; and
  3. Will be able to distribute other types of contributions beyond employee salary deferrals and grandfathered, pre-1989 earnings thereon as part of a hardship distribution, including qualified nonelective contributions (QNECs), qualified matching contributions (QMACs), safe harbor contributions, and earnings from all eligible sources (including post 1988 earnings on elective deferrals).

Items 1. and 2. are currently part of the IRS’s requirements for a hardship distribution to meet the safe harbor definition of “necessary to satisfy an immediate and heavy financial need.” [See Treasury Regulation Section 1.401(k)-1(d)(3)].

In order to implement the new provisions, plan sponsors will need to

  • Update their hardship distribution procedures,
  • Ensure plan record keepers are making necessary administrative changes, and
  • Review plan document language for necessary amendments.

We believe it was Congress’s intent to have the same changes apply to hardship distributions from 403(b) plans, but clarifying guidance from the IRS is needed. Treasury regulations under Section 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code state that a hardship withdrawal from a 403(b) plan has the same meaning, and is subject to the same rules and restrictions, as a hardship withdrawal under the 401(k) regulations [see Treasury Regulation Section 1.403(b)-6(d)(2)]. The Treasury Secretary has until early 2019 to modify the current 401(k) regulations to reflect the new hardship distribution rules.

Conclusion

Come 2019, plan sponsors may incorporate softer hardship distribution rules into their plans, policies and procedures as a result of changes under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018.

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Distributions from Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans

“With respect to distributions from nonqualified deferred compensation (NQDC) plans, what are the timing requirements?”

ERISA consultants at the Retirement Learning Center Resource Desk regularly receive calls from financial advisors on a broad array of technical topics related to IRAs, qualified retirement plans and other types of retirement savings and income plans, including nonqualified plans, Social Security and Medicare. We bring Case of the Week to you to highlight the most relevant topics affecting your business. A recent call with a financial advisor from Texas is representative of a common inquiry related to distributions from Internal Revenue Code Section (IRC §) 409A NQDC plans.

Highlights of Discussion

Sponsors of NQDC plans must enforce strict distribution rules that are dictated by IRC §409A, the terms of the governing plan document and the elections made by participants (if permitted). Regarding the last variable, if a plan permits participants to elect how and when they will take distributions, they must execute their elections before deferring their compensation into the plan. The timing of withdrawals is an important tax consideration that requires advance planning. Once the form and timing of distributions are set (typically when deferral elections are made), there are complex rules that apply if participants want to make changes.

Under IRC §409A, payment events are limited to

  • Separation from service (as defined by the plan);
  • Death;
  • Disability;
  • A specified time or according to a fixed schedule;
  • An unforeseeable emergency; or
  • A change in the ownership or effective control of the corporation, or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the corporation (as defined by the plan) (see Treasury Regulation 1.409A-3).

Sponsors can elect to include all or a subset of the above listed distributable events in their plans. A person must look at the specific plan document in order to know which payment events apply to a particular plan and whether participants are allowed any discretion in selecting from among them.

A NQDC plan may allow employee elections regarding the timing and method of payment; or it can dictate the payment regime with no elections allowed. If participants have options, they record their distribution choices when they make their deferral elections. They must elect 1) when they will receive distributions from the NQDC plan, and 2) in what form the distributions will take (lump sum withdrawal or installment payments). The deadline for these elections is typically by December 31 of the year prior to the year for which salary is deferred or for which nonelective (employer) contributions are made to the plan; or within 30 days of becoming eligible to participate in the plan. If participants fail to make distribution elections when permitted, plan terms will dictate a default.

Like the timing for distributions, the methods of payment vary for each NQDC plan. The plan may allow for lump sum withdrawals, installment payments (e.g., over five or 10 years) or both, and participants may be allowed to select the payment type. The plan document will specify the available methods of payment.

With rare exception, distributions may not be accelerated. However, there is a mechanism by which participants may delay receipt of payments beyond which they initially elected [see Treas. Reg.§409A-2(b)]. In general, a participant is allowed to change the timing and method of the payment if an election is filed with the employer at least 12 months prior to the date the first payment would be due; and the payment is postponed for at least five years. Again, it is important to review the plan document to see if the plan allows for distributions to be delayed and, if so, whether distributions are treated as a series of payments or as a single payment for this purpose.

The penalties for noncompliance with these withdrawal rules are severe. The IRS will consider any compensation deferred under an errant plan as taxable income to the participant, plus it will assess a 20 percent excise tax, including accruing interest. Taxes, penalties and interest are payable by the recipient of the deferred compensation, not the employer [see IRC §409A(a)(1)(B)].

Conclusion

The form and timing of payments from IRC §409A NQDC plans is an important consideration because of the potential for income tax liability. Depending on the terms of the governing plan, participants may have flexibility in selecting when payments are due and what form they take and, therefore, have more control over when the amounts become taxable income to them. Understanding the terms of each plan and advance planning are the keys to mitigating the share Uncle Sam will take.

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When are safe harbor 401(k) employer contributions distributable?

“My client is age 47. Can he take a distribution of his safe harbor 401(k) plan matching contributions while he is still working?”

ERISA consultants at the Retirement Learning Center Resource Desk regularly receive calls from financial advisors on a broad array of technical topics related to IRAs and qualified retirement plans.  We bring Case of the Week to you to highlight the most relevant topics affecting your business. A recent call with an advisor in Ohio is representative of a common inquiry involving safe harbor 401(k) employer contributions.

Highlights of discussion

  • No, safe harbor 401(k) employer contributions—either matching or nonelective—may not be distributed earlier than separation from service, death, disability, plan termination, or the attainment of age 59 ½ [IRC §§ 401(k)(12) and 401(k)(2)(B)]. This would include the earnings on such amounts as well.
  • IRS Notice 98-52, Section IV, H. provides further clarification on the distribution of safe harbor 401(k) employer contributions: “Pursuant to § 401(k)-(2)(B) and § 1.401(k)-1(d)(2)(ii), hardship is not a distributable event for 401(k) safe harbor contributions other than elective contributions.”
  • The distribution rules for safe harbor 401(k) employer contributions are different (more restrictive) than those for non-safe harbor 401(k) plans, where it may be possible, under the terms of the plan, to take an in-service withdrawal of employer matching or profit sharing contributions prior to age 59 ½.
  • Safe harbor 401(k) employer contributions must be fully vested when made. They cannot be subject to a vesting schedule as is the case with non-safe harbor 401(k) employer matching or profit sharing contributions.
  • The bottom line is to always refer to the provisions of the plan document or summary plan description for a definitive answer on when plan assets are distributable.

Conclusion

The IRS’ distribution rules for safe harbor 401(k) employer contributions are different (more restrictive) than those for non-safe harbor 401(k) plans. The soonest that a working participant would be able to request a withdrawal of safe harbor 401(k) employer  contributions would be age 59 ½.

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The Golden Age of Pensions: Another Fairy Tale

By W. Andrew Larson, CPC

Retirement Learning Center

 

Independent thought leadership—it’s not just a lame tagline to us.  At the Retirement Learning Center, we believe thought leadership must go beyond simply parroting the common media narrative. That’s why in this and future blog posts, as well as elsewhere, we strive to rise above the inane chatter to explore and challenge the real retirement-related issues and trends facing consumers and the industry in general.

“We are in a retirement crisis!” “401(k) plans have failed!” Media outlets frequently chant both of these mantras. Often underlying these assertions is the subtext that we need to return to the good old, defined benefit pension plan days when retirees lived happily ever after, supported by their generous pension checks.  Images of contented pensioners enjoying their golden years with golf, gardening, shuffleboard and an occasional game of bingo may warm the heart—but are not accurate.

Sadly, this vision of a blissful, pension-supported retirement world is—for the most part—a fantasy. Very few, lucky individuals actually experienced the good old pension days. It’s time to face reality and dispel some long-held myths associated with defined benefit plans so that we can get on to real-world solutions.  

Myth #1. Once upon a time most people retired with a pension.

  • Reality check: As with many myths, this one contains a grain of truth. Until the late 1970s, a larger percentage of the workforce was, in fact, participating in defined benefit plans over other types of retirement savings arrangements. According to the Employee Benefits Research Institute, the high-water mark of defined benefit plan coverage in the private sector probably occurred in 1980 when nearly 35 million workers were covered by defined benefit pension plans. This represented 46 percent of the private sector workforce. Since that time the overall pension coverage rate has declined. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports fewer than 18 percent of private sector workers are currently covered by pension plans.
  • The important take away is the misleading nature of the pension coverage statistic. Pension coverage does not necessarily equate to ultimately receiving a pension benefit. Many workers may have been covered by pensions in the past, but few ever received a benefit.

Why?

One simple answer is the pension rules were different back in the 70s and 80s than they are today.  Let me illustrate with a personal example.

In the 1970s, I worked at a grocery store stocking shelves and carrying out groceries. Despite the part-time status of the job I participated in the Amalgamated Meat Cutters Pension Plan. I was one of the 46 percent of workers covered by a pension plan. However, after I left employment at the store I received no pension benefit. I didn’t work there long enough and had to leave my benefit behind. My former employer used this “left behind” amount to help pay for benefits of participants with 30 years of service. These amounts became what are now called forfeitures.

Under the old defined benefit plan rules, in some cases, eligibility to receive a benefit required 30 years of service and employment with the plan sponsor through the retirement age of 65. Workers leaving before retirement usually got nothing, and their accruals were used to fund benefits for those who retired and earned a benefit. In fact, only about 10 percent of the covered workers ever stayed long enough to receive a benefit. If you made it to age 65, and had enough service—congratulations—you got a monthly check!

The forfeitures helped control plan costs by reducing the size of employer contributions. So, while fewer people received benefits in the old days, the dollars left behind helped keep plans more affordable for employers. As a result of modern-day vesting and accrual rules, many more employees who separate early—even before retirement age—still receive at least some benefit.  Consequently, with fewer forfeitures today plan sponsors need to increase their contributions. Do you see the trade off? Under the modern rules, because less money is left behind, the plan is more expensive for the plan sponsor (and less appealing). There is no such thing as a free lunch.

Myth #2. Pension benefits were generous back in the good old days.

Actually, benefits were quite modest. According to study by Walter Kolodrubetz, published in the Social Security Journal, the average pension benefit was about $137 a month up until 1970. The Pension Rights Center’s research indicates the current monthly benefit today is approximately $781 a month.

Adding insult to injury, most pre-1970s retirees lost half their purchasing power during the inflationary surge of the 70s and early 80s. As an example, a retiree with a $1,000 monthly pension check in 1970, by the early 80s had about $160 of inflation-adjusted buying power. In other words, during this period, inflation eroded about 86 percent of retirees’ buying power.

This brings us back to reality. There never really was a golden age for pension plans.  And, today, defined benefit plans are becoming too expensive for employers to continue. Pensions are not coming back. So, what should be done?

First of all, we need to challenge proponents of the “let’s bring back pensions” notion. Demographics and economics make that idea a nonstarter.

Next, we should propose and advocate modern 401(k)/IRA enticements, designs and products to enhance retirement readiness, such as

  • Automatic enrollment,
  • Automatic escalation,
  • Automatic investment,
  • Lifetime income options,
  • Availability of saver’s credits,
  • Expansion of multiple employer plans (MEPs), and
  • Incorporating HSAs into retirement planning.

So let’s focus on developing strategies and policies that fit in the real world.

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Definition of Disability for Early Distribution Penalty

 

What is the definition of disability for purposes of the early distribution penalty tax?

“How does the IRS define disability for the purposes of allowing a 401(k) plan participant to take a distribution before the age of 59 ½ without a penalty tax?”  

ERISA consultants at the Retirement Learning Center Resource Desk regularly receive calls from financial advisors on a broad array of technical topics related to IRAs and qualified retirement plans. We bring Case of the Week to you to highlight the most relevant topics affecting your business.

Highlights of Discussion

  • Generally, amounts an individual withdraws from an IRA or retirement plan before reaching age 59½ are called ”early” or ”premature” distributions. Beyond including the pretax portion of an early distribution in taxable income for the year taken, the recipient must pay an additional 10% early withdrawal penalty tax, unless an exception applies [Internal Revenue Code Section (IRC §) 72(t)].
  • There are several exceptions to the early withdrawal penalty tax found in IRC §72(t)(2)(A)-(G), including an exception for disability (IRC §72(t)(2)(A)(iii).
  • The IRS defines disability for this purpose in IRC §72(m)(7),  and the definition is quite strict:

 

“… an individual shall be considered to be disabled if he is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or to be of long-continued and indefinite duration. An individual shall not be considered to be disabled unless he furnishes proof of the existence thereof …”

 

  • Some disabled individuals file IRS Schedule R, Credit for the Elderly or Disabled, with their IRS Form 1040s.  The schedule requires a physician’s certification that a person meets the IRC §72(m)(7) definition of disabled. Alternatively, a physician’s signed statement attesting to an individual’s permanent and total disability can serve as proof of the condition.
  • See the IRS’ Retirement Topics – Exceptions to Tax on Early Distributions for other penalty exceptions.
  • It is important that plan administrators review their disability claims procedures, including acceptable forms of documentation. While the final disability claims regulations and accompanying FAQs (in particular Q&A 9) reference the Social Security Administration or the employer’s long-term disability plan benefit awards as two examples of disability documentation, the rules for pension plans do not seem to preclude other forms, as long as the disability finding is made by a party other than the plan for purposes other than making a benefit determination under the plan. Here is the wording from Q&A 9 of the DOL’s FAQs

 

“However, if a plan provides a benefit the availability of which is conditioned on a finding of disability, and that finding is made by a party other than the plan for purposes other than making a benefit determination under the plan, then the special rules for disability claims need not be applied to a claim for such benefits.”

 

Conclusion

While disability can qualify a distribution recipient for an exception to the early withdrawal penalty tax, the definition of disability for this purpose is rigorous and requires proof.

 

 

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