Proposed Submission of Information Collection for OMB Review; Comment Request; Special Financial Assistance Information

Official abstract: The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) intends to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) extend approval, with modifications, under the Paperwork Reduction Act, of a collection of information contained in PBGC's regulation on special financial assistance (SFA). The purpose of the information collection is to gather information necessary for PBGC to operate this special financial assistance program. PBGC is also proposing changes to the information collected with the Annual Statement of Compliance (ASOC) by adding requests for filers to provide documentation regarding plan investment policies and procedures for locating missing participants. This notice informs the public of PBGC's intent and solicits public comment on the collection of information.

Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans; Interest Assumptions for Valuing Benefits

Official abstract: This final rule amends the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's regulation on Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans to prescribe the spreads component of the interest assumption under the asset allocation regulation for plans with valuation dates of October 31, 2026-January 30, 2027. These interest assumptions are used for valuing benefits under terminating single-employer plans and for other purposes.

Submission of Information Collection for OMB Review; Comment Request; Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative and Quantitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery

Official abstract: The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation is requesting that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) extend approval, under the Paperwork Reduction Act, of the collection of information on qualitative and quantitative feedback on PBGC's service delivery (OMB Control Number 1212-0066; expires October 31, 2026). This notice informs the public of PBGC's request and solicits comments on the proposed information collection. This collection of information was developed as part of a Federal Government-wide effort to streamline the process for seeking feedback from the public on service delivery.

Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans; Interest Assumptions for Valuing Benefits

Penalties for Failure To Provide Certain Notices or Other Material Information

Official abstract: This proposed rule would provide the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's policies for calculating, imposing, and waiving monetary penalties to pension plans for failure to provide certain required notices or other material information timely to PBGC and plan participants.

Improvements to Rules on Recoupment of Benefit Overpayments

Official abstract: The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is proposing to improve its rules on recoupment of benefit overpayments under PBGC's insurance program for single-employer terminated plans trusteed by PBGC. These proposed improvements include changing the recoupment methodology to a flat rate of 5 percent of a participant's monthly benefit and eliminating recoupment from a participant's surviving beneficiary.

Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans; Interest Assumptions for Valuing Benefits

Official abstract: This final rule amends the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's regulation on Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans to prescribe the spreads component of the interest assumption under the asset allocation regulation for plans with valuation dates of July 31, 2026-October 30, 2026. These interest assumptions are used for valuing benefits under terminating single-employer plans and for other purposes.

Submission of Information Collections for OMB Review; Comment Request; Direct Express Enrollment Form

Official abstract: The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is requesting that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approve, under the Paperwork Reduction Act, a new collection of information. The purpose of the information collection is to obtain information necessary to enroll individuals in the Direct Express debit card program. This notice informs the public of PBGC's request and solicits public comment on the collections of information.

Technical Amendments: Special Financial Assistance

Official abstract: The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is proposing technical corrections, clarifications, and improvements to the restrictions and conditions in its regulation on special financial assistance. These changes would clarify (a) the permissibility of investing special financial assistance in certain securities and (b) the condition requiring PBGC approval for settling withdrawal liability claims. The amendments also would repeal a provision that enabled plans that received special financial assistance to request the reallocation of employer contributions to pay for health benefit costs.

Proposed Submission of Information Collection for OMB Review; Comment Request; Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative and Quantitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery

Official abstract: The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation intends to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) extend approval, under the Paperwork Reduction Act, of the collection of information on qualitative and quantitative feedback on PBGC's service delivery (OMB Control Number 1212-0066; expires October 31, 2026). This notice informs the public of PBGC's intent and solicits comments on the proposed information collection. This collection of information was developed as part of a Federal Government-wide effort to streamline the process for seeking feedback from the public on service delivery.

Submission of Information Collection for OMB Review; Comment Request; Liability for Termination of Single-Employer Plans

Official abstract: The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is requesting that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) extend approval, under the Paperwork Reduction Act, of a collection of information contained in its regulation on Liability for Termination of Single-Employer Plans (OMB control number 1212-0017; expires August 31, 2026). This notice informs the public of PBGC's request and solicits public comment on the collection of information.

No Adjustment of Civil Penalties for Inflation

Official abstract: The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is notifying the public that its civil monetary penalty amounts will not increase for the 2026 calendar year. PBGC is generally required by statute to amend its regulations annually to adjust for inflation the maximum civil penalty for failure to provide certain notices or other material information and for failure to provide certain multiemployer plan notices. In accordance with guidance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), PBGC will continue to use the 2025 civil monetary penalty levels because there will be no cost-of-living adjustment for 2026.