PBGC Announces 2015 Premium Rates

The per-participant flat premium rate for plan years beginning in 2015 is $57 for single-employer plans (up from a 2014 rate of $49) and $13 for multiemployer plans (up from a 2014 rate of $12).

For plan years beginning in 2015, the variable-rate premium (VRP) for single-employer plans is $24 per $1,000 of unfunded vested benefits (UVBs), up from a 2014 rate of $14. This $10 increase was provided in The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013. The VRP rate is also subject to indexing, but due to statutory rounding rules, indexing had no effect on the 2015 VRP rate.

For 2015, the VRP is capped at $418 times the number of participants (up from a 2014 cap of $412). Plans sponsored by small employers (generally fewer than 25 employees) may be subject to an even lower cap. Multiemployer plans do not pay a VRP.

The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 calls for the VRP rate to increase another $5 starting with 2016 (on top of indexing).