DOL Allows Loans To Plans Facing Liquidity Problems
By Steven Brostoff
Washington
Insurance companies will be able to provide interest-free loans to pension plans facing short-term liquidity problems under a Labor Department action.
The action, announced on Sept. 26, permits pension plans to receive interest-free loans from "interested parties," including insurers that provide service to pension plans, with repayment periods of up to 120 days as a way to address liquidity problems stemming from the Sept. 11 attacks.
The action is retroactive to loans beginning on Sept. 11 and will remain in effect until Jan. 9, 2002.
The loan will be permitted if no interest or fee is charged to the plan, and the proceeds are used only for purposes incidental to the ordinary operation of the plan.
