Benefits Forward

Document Excerpt SUMMARY: This document contains proposed amendments to the regulations relating to imposing user fees for enrolled agents and enrolled retirement plan agents. The proposed regulations remove the initial enrollment user fee for enrolled retirement plan agents because the IRS no longer offers initial enrollment as an enrolled retirement plan agent. The proposed regulations […]

Document Excerpt SUMMARY: This document contains proposed amendments to the regulations relating to hardship distributions from section 401(k) plans. The amendments reflect statutory changes affecting section 401(k) plans, including recent changes made by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018. These regulations would affect participants in, beneficiaries of, employers maintaining, and administrators of plans that contain […]

Document Excerpt Link https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/2018-2019_pgp_initial.pdf#page=13

Document Excerpt Section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code) provides for dollar limitations on benefits and contributions under qualified retirement plans. Section 415(d) requires that the Secretary of the Treasury annually adjust these limits for cost-of-living increases. Other limitations applicable to deferred compensation plans are also affected by these adjustments under § 415. […]

Document Excerpt SUMMARY: This guidance relates to section 1332 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and its implementing regulations. Section 1332 provides the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of the Treasury (collectively, the Secretaries) with the discretion to approve a state’s proposal to waive specific provisions of the […]

Document Excerpt .01 Purpose. This revenue procedure updates the comprehensive system of correction programs for sponsors of retirement plans that are intended to satisfy the requirements of § 401(a), 403(a), 403(b), 408(k), or 408(p) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”), but that have not met these requirements for a period of time. This system, […]

Document Excerpt On November 7, 2018 the Departments of Health and Human Services, Treasury, and Labor (the Departments) announced two final rules, on display at the Federal Register, that provide conscience protections to Americans who have a religious or moral objection to health insurance that covers contraceptive methods, including certain contraceptives that many view as […]

Document Excerpt SUMMARY: These rules finalize, with changes based on public comments, the interim final rules issued in the Federal Register on October 13, 2017 concerning moral exemptions and accommodation. This document is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on 11/15/2018 and available online at https://federalregister.gov/d/2018-24514, and on govinfo.gov accommodations regarding coverage of […]

Document Excerpt SUMMARY: These rules finalize, with changes based on public comments, interim final rules concerning religious exemptions and accommodations regarding coverage of certain preventive services issued in the Federal Register on October 13, 2017. These rules expand exemptions to protect religious beliefs for certain entities and individuals whose health plans are subject to a […]

Document Excerpt Link https://www.dol.gov/sites/default/files/ebsa/about-ebsa/our-activities/resource-center/faqs/hurricane-florence-and-michael.pdf

Document Excerpt WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor has published employee benefit plan compliance guidance and relief for victims of Hurricanes Florence and Michael. The Department recognizes that plan fiduciaries, employers, labor organizations, service providers, and participants and beneficiaries may encounter issues complying with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) over the […]

Document Excerpt SUMMARY: This document sets forth proposed rules to expand opportunities for working men and women and their families to access affordable, quality healthcare through proposed changes to regulations under various provisions of the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), and the Internal Revenue Code (Code). This […]

Document Excerpt Link https://www.pbgc.gov/news/press/releases/pr18-06

Document Excerpt Link https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaMain?operation=OPERATION_GET_AGENCY_RULE_LIST&currentPubId=201810&showStage=active&agencyCd=1212&Image58.x=33&Image58.y=17

Document Excerpt The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is requesting that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) extend approval, under the Paperwork Reduction Act, of collections of information under PBGC’s regulation on Reportable Events and Certain Other Notification Requirements with modifications. This notice informs the public of PBGC’s request and solicits public comment on […]

Document Excerpt SUMMARY: The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is amending its regulations on guaranteed benefits and asset allocation. These amendments incorporate statutory changes to the rules for participants with certain ownership interests in a plan sponsor. Link https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2018-21551.pdf

Document Excerpt PBGC is issuing a final rule amending its regulation on Mergers and Transfers Between Multiemployer Plans to implement procedures and information requirements for a request for a facilitated merger. This final rule also reorganizes and updates provisions in the existing regulation. Link https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/09/14/2018-19988/mergers-and-transfers-between-multiemployer-plans

Document Excerpt This document provides information for plans paying premiums for plan years beginning in 2018, including instructions for each data element that must be reported. Link https://www.pbgc.gov/sites/default/files/2018-cpf-instructions.pdf

Document Excerpt The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule on November 7, 2018 to strengthen program integrity for Exchanges with respect to subsidy payments in the individual market. The proposed rule is intended to advance the Administration’s goals of: •Strengthening CMS’ oversight over State-based Exchanges (SBEs) through monitoring,reporting, and oversight […]

Document Excerpt SUMMARY: This proposed rule would revise standards relating to oversight of Exchanges established by states, periodic data matching frequency and authority, and the length of a consumer’s authorization for the Exchange to obtain updated tax information. This proposed rule would also propose new requirements for certain issuers related to the collection of a […]

Document Excerpt On November 7, 2018 the Departments of Health and Human Services, Treasury, and Labor (the Departments) announced two final rules, on display at the Federal Register, that provide conscience protections to Americans who have a religious or moral objection to health insurance that covers contraceptive methods, including certain contraceptives that many view as […]

Document Excerpt SUMMARY: This guidance relates to section 1332 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and its implementing regulations. Section 1332 provides the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of the Treasury (collectively, the Secretaries) with the discretion to approve a state’s proposal to waive specific provisions of the […]

Document Excerpt This proposed rule would revise the Federal Health Insurance Programs for the Aged and Disabled by amending the Medicare Parts A, B, C and D programs, as well as the Medicaid program, to require direct-to-consumer (DTC) television advertisements of prescription drugs and biological products for which payment is available through or under Medicare […]

Document Excerpt •The Departments will consider changes to make it easier for businesses to join together to offer Association Retirement Plans (ARPs), also known as Multiple Employer Plans. Link https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trump-strengthening-retirement-security-american-workers/