DOL Critical and Endangered Pension Funds

Critical And Endangered Status Notices

Under Federal pension law, if a multiemployer pension plan is determined to be in critical or endangered status, the plan must provide notice of this status to participants, beneficiaries, the bargaining parties, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and the Department of Labor. This requirement applies when a plan has funding or liquidity problems, or both, as described in the Federal law. If a plan is in critical status, adjustable benefits may be reduced and no lump sum distributions can be made. Pension plans in critical and endangered status are required to adopt a plan aimed at restoring the financial health of the pension plan.

For participants with questions regarding the notices, first contact your plan administrator. If you still have questions, contact the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration by calling toll-free 1.866.444.EBSA (3272) or electronically at www.askebsa.dol.gov.