When a couple divorces or separates, or one member seeks child or spousal support from the other, a court or state agency may divide a person's pension benefit or order payments from it by issuing a domestic relations order (DRO). When the DRO relates to a pension plan trusteed by PBGC, PBGC must review it to make sure it is in line with ERISA, the federal pension law, as well as PBGC policies. If it is, PBGC qualifies the DRO, and it becomes a qualified domestic relations order, or QDRO A domestic relations order that meets certain requirements, as determined by the plan or PBGC. This “qualification” gives an alternate payee the right to receive some or all of the benefits payable under a plan.. PBGC will pay benefits as the directs.
Qualified Domestic Relations Orders & PBGC contains the information you or your attorney need to prepare a QDRO A domestic relations order that meets certain requirements, as determined by the plan or PBGC. This “qualification” gives an alternate payee the right to receive some or all of the benefits payable under a plan. - including:
- PBGC Model Separate Interest QDRO
- PBGC Model Shared Payment QDRO
- PBGC Model Child Support Shared Payment QDRO
- PBGC Model Treat-As-Spouse QDRO
- Instructions for model QDROs
- Procedures and a checklist for planning a QDRO and submitting your DRO to PBGC for qualification
- Information on PBGC's procedures during our review of your DRO
- A checklist to use when drafting a domestic relations order that will be sent to PBGC
- Appendices on
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