29 C.F.R. § 4041.47 — PBGC determination of plan sufficiency/insufficiency.

(a) General. Upon receipt of participant and benefit information filed pursuant to § 4041.45 (b)(1) or (c), the PBGC will determine the degree to which the plan is sufficient and notify the plan administrator in writing of its determination in accordance with paragraph (b) or (c) of this section.

(b) Insufficiency for guaranteed benefits. If the PBGC finds that it is unable to determine that a plan is sufficient for guaranteed benefits, it will issue a “notice of inability to determine sufficiency” notifying the plan administrator of this finding and advising the plan administrator that—

(1) The plan administrator must continue to administer the plan under the restrictions imposed by § 4041.42; and

(2) The termination will be completed under section 4042 of ERISA.

(c) Sufficiency for guaranteed benefits or benefit liabilities. If the PBGC determines that a plan is sufficient for guaranteed benefits but not for benefit liabilities or is sufficient for benefit liabilities, the PBGC will issue to the plan administrator a distribution notice advising the plan administrator—

(1) To issue notices of benefit distribution in accordance with § 4041.48;

(2) To close out the plan in accordance with § 4041.50;

(3) To file a timely post-distribution certification with the PBGC in accordance with § 4041.50(b); and

(4) That either the plan administrator or the contributing sponsor must preserve and maintain plan records in accordance with § 4041.5.

(d) Alternative treatment of majority owner's benefit. A majority owner may elect to forgo receipt of all or part of his or her plan benefits in connection with a distress termination. Any such alternative treatment—

(1) Is valid only if the conditions in § 4041.21(b)(2)(i) through (v) are met (except that, in the case of a plan that does not distribute assets pursuant to § 4041.50, the majority owner may make the election and the spouse may consent any time on or after the date of issuance of the first notice of intent to terminate); and—

(2) Is subject to the PBGC's approval if the election—

(i) Is made after the termination date; and

(ii) Would result in the PBGC determining that the plan is sufficient for guaranteed benefits under paragraph (c).

Pension Law Library · https://pensionresource.website/EAMain?content=EAMain.Law&id=cfr29-4041.47 · printed October 16, 2026. Unofficial copy compiled from official federal sources; verify against the official text before relying on it.