Friday, November 19, 2010

Guidance on "Unforseeable Emergency" Distributions

IRS issues Rev. Rul. 2010-27 clarifying that events must be beyond the control of the participant.

Article from Spencer's Benefits Reports - HERE

"Three Situations Addressed

The three fact situations addressed in Rev. Rul. 2010-27 do not fit within any of the examples used in Reg. Sec. 1.457-6(c)(2)(i) nor those used by the plan.

In the first situation, an emergency distribution was requested to repair the participant’s principal residence because of significant water damage that is not covered by insurance but is substantially similar to the need to pay for damage to a home as a result of a natural disaster. This is a permissible emergency distribution because it is the result of events beyond the control of the participant, the IRS said.

In the second situation, an emergency distribution was requested to pay for the funeral expenses of an adult son who is not a dependent. The IRS stated that was a permissible emergency distribution because “the need to pay for the funeral expenses of a non-dependent adult son is an extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstance that arises as a result of events beyond the control of the participant and that is substantially similar to the need to pay for funeral expenses of a dependent.”

The facts in the third situation involve a participant who requests an emergency distribution to pay for accumulated credit card debt. This is not a permissible emergency distribution the IRS said because it not arise “due to any events that are extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the participant.”"