(a) Purpose. This part sets forth the rules governing the issuance of all initial determinations by PBGC on cases pending before it involving the matters set forth in paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section and the procedures for requesting and obtaining administrative review by PBGC of those determinations. Subpart A contains general provisions. Subpart B sets forth rules governing the issuance of all initial determinations of PBGC on matters covered by this part. Subpart C establishes procedures governing the reconsideration by PBGC of initial determinations relating to the matters set forth in paragraph (d). Subpart D establishes procedures governing administrative appeals from initial determinations relating to the matters set forth in paragraph (e).

(b) Scope. This part applies to the initial determinations made by PBGC that are listed in paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section.

(c) Matters not covered by this part. Nothing in this part limits—

(1) The authority of PBGC to review, either upon request or on its own initiative, a determination to which this part does not apply when, in its discretion, PBGC determines that it would be appropriate to do so, or

(2) The procedure that PBGC may utilize in reviewing any determination to which this part does not apply.

(d) Determinations subject to reconsideration. Any person aggrieved by an initial determination of PBGC listed in this paragraph (d) may request reconsideration, subject to the terms of this part.

(1) Determinations with respect to premiums, interest and late payment penalties pursuant to section 4007 of ERISA;

(2) Determinations with respect to voluntary terminations under section 4041 of ERISA, including any of the following:

(i) A determination that a notice requirement or a certification requirement under section 4041 of ERISA has not been met;

(ii) A determination that the requirements for demonstrating distress under section 4041(c)(2)(B) of ERISA have not been met;

(iii) A determination with respect to the sufficiency of plan assets for benefit liabilities or for guaranteed benefits; and

(iv) A determination with respect to a plan terminating under section 4041(b) of ERISA or with respect to the distribution of residual assets under section 4044(d) of ERISA; and

(3) Determinations with respect to penalties under section 4071 of ERISA.

(e) Determinations subject to appeal. Any person aggrieved by an initial determination of PBGC listed in this paragraph (e) may file an appeal, subject to the terms of this part.

(1) Determinations that a plan is or is not covered under section 4021 of ERISA;

(2) Determinations of a participant's or beneficiary's benefit entitlement and the amount of benefit payable under a covered plan under sections 4022, 4022B, and 4044 of ERISA (other than a determination described in paragraph (d)(2)(iv) of this section);

(3) Determinations that a domestic relations order is or is not a qualified domestic relations order under section 206(d)(3) of ERISA and section 414(p) of the Code;

(4) Determinations of the amount of money subject to recapture pursuant to section 4045 of ERISA;

(5) Determinations of the amount of liability under sections 4062(b)(1), 4063, or 4064 of ERISA; and

(6) Determinations with respect to benefits payable by PBGC under section 4050 of ERISA and part 4050 of this chapter.

[61 FR 34012, July 1, 1996, as amended at 73 FR 38120, July 3, 2008; 77 FR 22489, Apr. 16, 2012; 82 FR 60818, Dec. 22, 2017; 85 FR 10283, 10284, Feb. 24, 2020]

The following terms are defined in § 4001.2 of this chapter: Code, contributing sponsor, controlled group, ERISA, multiemployer plan, PBGC, person, plan administrator, and single-employer plan.

In addition, for purposes of this part:

Aggrieved person means any participant, beneficiary, plan administrator, contributing sponsor of a single-employer plan or member of such a contributing sponsor's controlled group, plan sponsor of a multiemployer plan, or employer that is adversely affected by an initial determination of PBGC with respect to a pension plan in which such person has an interest. The term “beneficiary” includes an alternate payee (within the meaning of section 206(d)(3)(K) of ERISA) under a qualified domestic relations order (within the meaning of section 206(d)(3)(B) of ERISA).

Appeals Board means a board consisting of three PBGC officials. The Director will appoint a senior PBGC official to serve as Chairperson and three or more other PBGC officials to serve as regular Appeals Board members. The Chairperson will designate the three officials who will constitute the Appeals Board with respect to a case, provided that a person may not serve on the Appeals Board with respect to a case in which he or she made a decision regarding the merits of the determination being appealed. The Chairperson need not serve on the Appeals Board with respect to all cases.

Appellant means any person filing an appeal under subpart D of this part.

Director means the Director of any department of PBGC and includes the Director of PBGC, Deputy Directors, and the General Counsel.

[61 FR 34012, July 1, 1996, as amended at 73 FR 38120, July 3, 2008; 85 FR 10284, Feb. 24, 2020]

(a) General. A person may request PBGC's assistance in obtaining information if the person lacks information necessary—

(1) To file a request for review pursuant to subpart C or D of this part, or to decide whether to seek review; or

(2) To participate in an appeal pursuant to § 4003.57, or to decide whether to participate in an appeal.

(b) Information not in PBGC's possession. A person may request PBGC's assistance in obtaining information in the possession of a party other than PBGC. The request must—

(1) Be in writing;

(2) State or describe the missing information, the reason why the person needs the information, and the reason why the person needs the assistance of PBGC in obtaining the information; and

(3) Be submitted to the Appeals Board or the department that is responsible for reviewing the initial determination under this part. If the determination is subject to reconsideration, see § 4003.33 for information on where to submit the request for assistance. If the determination is subject to review by appeal, see § 4003.53 for information on where to submit the request.

(c) Information in the possession of PBGC. A person may request information in the possession of PBGC pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act and part 4901 of this chapter or the Privacy Act and part 4902 of this chapter, as applicable. See parts 4901 and 4902 of this chapter for additional information. Nothing in this paragraph (c) limits or amends the requirements under part 4901 or 4902 of this chapter.

[85 FR 10283, Feb. 24, 2020]

When a document is required under this part to be filed within a prescribed period of time, an extension of time to file will be granted only upon good cause shown and only when the request for an extension is made before the expiration of the time prescribed. The request for an extension must be in writing and state why additional time is needed and the amount of additional time requested. The filing of a request for an extension will stop the running of the prescribed period of time. Requests for extension of the time to submit an appeal should be sent to the Appeals Board; requests for extension of the time to submit a request for reconsideration should be sent to the department that issued the initial determination. When a request for an extension is granted, PBGC will notify the person requesting the extension, in writing, of the amount of additional time granted. When a request for an extension is denied, PBGC will notify the person requesting the extension in writing, and the prescribed period of time will resume running from the date of denial.

[85 FR 10283, Feb. 24, 2020]

PBGC will process a request for review of an initial determination that was not filed within the prescribed period of time for requesting review (see §§ 4003.32 and 4003.52) if—

(a) The person requesting review demonstrates in his or her request that he or she did not file a timely request for review because he or she neither knew nor, with due diligence, could have known of the initial determination; and

(b) The request for review is filed within 30 days after the date the aggrieved person, exercising due diligence at all relevant times, first learned of the initial determination where the requested review is reconsideration, or within 45 days after the date the aggrieved person, exercising due diligence at all relevant times, first learned of the initial determination where the request for review is an appeal.

[61 FR 34012, July 1, 1996, as amended at 85 FR 10284, Feb. 24, 2020]

A person may file any document or make any appearance that is required or permitted by this part on his or her own behalf or he or she may designate a representative. When the representative is not an attorney-at-law, a notarized power of attorney, signed by the person making the designation, which authorizes the representation and specifies the scope of representation must be filed with PBGC in accordance with § 4003.9(b) of this part.

[61 FR 34012, July 1, 1996, as amended at 85 FR 10284, Feb. 24, 2020]

Except as provided in § 4003.22(b), a person aggrieved by an initial determination of PBGC covered by this part, other than an initial determination subject to reconsideration that is issued by a Department Director, has not exhausted his or her administrative remedies until he or she has filed a request for reconsideration under subpart C of this part or an appeal under subpart D of this part, whichever is applicable, and a decision granting or denying the relief requested has been issued.

[61 FR 34012, July 1, 1996, as amended at 85 FR 10283, 10284, Feb. 24, 2020]

If any person filing a document with PBGC believes that some or all of the information contained in the document is exempt from the mandatory public disclosure requirements of the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552, he or she must specify the information with respect to which confidentiality is claimed and the grounds therefor.

[61 FR 34012, July 1, 1996, as amended at 85 FR 10284, Feb. 24, 2020]

(a) Method of filing. PBGC applies the rules in subpart A of part 4000 of this chapter to determine permissible methods of filing with PBGC under this part.

(b) Date of filing. PBGC applies the rules in subpart C of part 4000 of this chapter to determine the date that a submission under this part was filed with PBGC.

[68 FR 61352, Oct. 28, 2003, as amended at 85 FR 10284, Feb. 24, 2020]

PBGC applies the rules in subpart D of part 4000 of this chapter to compute any time period under this part.

[68 FR 61352, Oct. 28, 2003, as amended at 85 FR 10284, Feb. 24, 2020]