(a) Requirement of notices of insolvency. A plan sponsor that determines that the plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent for a plan year shall issue notices of insolvency to the PBGC and to plan participants and beneficiaries. Once notices of insolvency have been issued to the PBGC and to plan participants and beneficiaries, no notice of insolvency needs to be issued for subsequent insolvency years. Notices shall be delivered in the manner and within the time prescribed in this section and shall contain the information described in
§ 4281.44.
(b) Requirement of annual updates. A plan sponsor that has issued notices of insolvency to the PBGC and to plan participants and beneficiaries shall thereafter issue annual updates to the PBGC and participants and beneficiaries for each plan year beginning after the plan year for which the notice of insolvency was issued. However, the plan sponsor need not issue an annual update to plan participants and beneficiaries who are issued notices of insolvency benefit level in accordance with
§ 4281.45 for the same insolvency year. A plan sponsor that, after issuing annual updates for a plan year, determines under § 4041A.25(b) that the plan is or may be insolvent for that plan year need not issue revised annual updates. Annual updates shall be delivered in the manner and within the time prescribed in this section and shall contain the information described in
§ 4281.44.
(c) Notices of insolvency—when delivered. Except as provided in the next sentence, the plan sponsor shall mail or otherwise deliver the notices of insolvency no later than 30 days after the plan sponsor determines that the plan is or may be insolvent. However, the notice to plan participants and beneficiaries in pay status may be delivered concurrently with the first benefit payment made after the determination of insolvency.
(d) Annual updates—when delivered. Except as provided in the next sentence, the plan sponsor shall mail or otherwise deliver annual updates no later than 60 days before the beginning of the plan year for which the annual update is issued. A plan sponsor that determines under § 4041A.25(b) that the plan is or may be insolvent for a plan year and that has not at that time issued annual updates for that year, shall mail or otherwise deliver the annual updates by the later of 60 days before the beginning of the plan year or 30 days after the date of the plan sponsor's determination under § 4041A.25(b).
(e) Notices of insolvency—method of delivery. The notices of insolvency shall be delivered by mail or by hand to the PBGC and to plan participants and beneficiaries in pay status when the notice is required to be delivered. Notice to participants and beneficiaries not in pay status 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 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.
(f) Annual updates—method of delivery. Each annual update shall be delivered by mail or by hand to the PBGC. Each annual update to plan participants and beneficiaries shall be provided in any manner reasonably calculated to reach participants and beneficiaries. Reasonable methods of notification include, but are not limited to, posting the notice at participants’ worksites and publishing the notice in a union newsletter 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.
29 C.F.R. § 4281.43 — Notice of insolvency. · CFR 2003 annual edition (revised as of 2003-07-01) · https://pensionresource.website/EAMain?content=EAMain.Law&id=cfr29-4281.43&asof=1997-07-01 · printed Oct 16, 2026