(a) Requirement of notice. Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, for each insolvency year the plan sponsor shall notify the PBGC and the interested parties, as defined in § 4245.3(d), of the level of benefits expected to be paid during the year (the “insolvency benefit level”). These notices shall be delivered in the manner and within the time prescribed in this section and shall contain the information described in § 4245.6.

(b) Waiver of notice to certain interested parties. The notice of insolvency benefit level required under this section need not be given to interested parties, other than participants and beneficiaries who are in pay status or are reasonably expected to enter pay status during the insolvency year, for an insolvency year immediately following the plan year in which a notice of insolvency was required to be delivered pursuant to § 4245.3, provided that the notice of insolvency was in fact delivered.

(c) When delivered. The plan sponsor shall mail or otherwise deliver the required notices of insolvency benefit level no later than 60 days before the beginning of the insolvency year, except that if the determination of insolvency is made fewer than 120 days before the beginning of the insolvency year, the notices shall be delivered within 60 days after the date of the plan sponsor's determination.

(d) Methods of delivery. The notice of insolvency benefit level shall be delivered by mail or by hand to the PBGC and to the interested parties described in § 4245.3(d), other than participants and beneficiaries who are neither in pay status nor reasonably expected to enter pay status during the insolvency year for which the notice is given. The notice to participants and beneficiaries not in pay status, nor reasonably expected to enter pay status during the insolvency year, shall be provided in any manner reasonably calculated to reach those participants and beneficiaries. Reasonable methods of notification include, but are not limited to, posting the notice at participants’ worksites or publishing the notice in a union newsletter or in a newspaper of general circulation in the area or areas where participants reside. Notice to a participant shall be deemed notice to that participant's beneficiary or beneficiaries.