Pension Insurance Premiums Fact Sheet
PBGC pension insurance premiums are set by Congress. They are a key determinant of whether PBGC has enough money to pay all benefits in the future, or whether the agency runs a deficit.
Single-employer plans:
All single-employer plans pay a flat-rate premium based on the number of participants
Underfunded single-employer plans pay an additional variable-rate premium (VRP) based on the amount of unfunded vested benefits
The VRP is capped at an amount based on the number of participants
Multiemployer plans pay a flat-rate premium based on the number of participants
These rates, including the VRP cap, are subject to indexing. For information about rates applicable for a particular plan year, see our “Premium Rates” table.
Unless a plan has elected to use an alternative provided in the regulations, future benefit payments are discounted using three “spot segment rates” derived from a corporate bond curve.
The first applies to benefits expected to be paid within five years of the first day of the plan year
The second applies to the following 15 years
The third applies to benefits expected to be paid after that
For information about segment rates applicable for a particular plan year, see our “VRP discount rate” table.
In certain circumstances involving distress and involuntary plan terminations, companies might have to pay a termination premium after PBGC trustees the plan. If the termination applies it is payable for three years and is equal to $1,250 per participant. The termination premium is not subject to indexing.
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