Basic (09-19)

RM 03253.001 Form 8955-SSA (Annual Registration Statement Identifying Separated Participants With Deferred Vested Benefits)

A. Role of Plan Administrators

  1. 1. 

    Plan administrators of private retirement plans subject to the vesting standards of section 203 of ERISA must complete Form 8955-SSA (non-ERISA plans may choose voluntarily to file the form) and submit it to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), either electronically or on paper.

  2. 2. 

    When the IRS receives the Form 8955-SSA data from the plan administrator or the plan sponsor, the IRS then forwards the information to the Social Security Administration (SSA). If the plan administrator or plan sponsor complete the form electronically, the IRS transfers the electronic data. If the plan administrator or plan sponsor complete paper forms, then the IRS forwards SSA the paper forms for processing. See IRS Form 8955-SSA.

B. Form 8955-SSA: Page One Plan Information

  1. 1. 

    Name of plan and plan number.

  2. 2. 

    Plan sponsor information, including employer identification number (EIN), phone number, and address.

  3. 3. 

    Plan administrator information, including EIN, phone number, and address.

  4. 4. 

    Any name or EIN change of the plan administrator if there is one.

  5. 5. 

    Any name or EIN change of the plan sponsor if there is one.

  6. 6. 

    The number of separated participants with a deferred benefit required to be reported and the number for those voluntarily reported.

  7. 7. 

    Total number of separated participants with a deferred benefit reported.

  8. 8. 

    Whether the plan administrator provided an individual statement to the participants required to receive one.

C. Form 8955-SSA: Page Two Separated Participant Information

  1. 1. 

    SSN.

  2. 2. 

    Name.

  3. 3. 

    Type of Annuity (e.g., single sum, life annuity, etc.)

  4. 4. 

    Payment Frequency (e.g., monthly, quarterly, etc.).

  5. 5. 

    Amount of vested benefit (for defined benefit plans, the periodic payment amount paid monthly, annually, etc. and for defined contribution plan, the total value of account at the time of separation).

    NOTE: 

    Periodic Payment applies to Defined Benefit Plans only. An example of a defined benefit plan is the civil service retirement plan for SSA employees.

  6. 6. 

    Previous sponsor's EIN and previous plan number if there was one.


To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0103253001
RM 03253.001 - Form 8955-SSA (Annual Registration Statement Identifying Separated Participants With Deferred Vested Benefits) - 09/24/2019
Batch run: 09/24/2019
Rev:09/24/2019