Defined Benefit Church Plan

[John Feldt ERPA CPC QPA]

Since this is a church plan which has not elected to be subject to ERISA, is double proration therefore allowable?

ERISA §2530.204-2(d) Prohibited double proration

(1) In the case of a defined benefit plan that (i) defines benefits on a basis which has the effect of prorating benefits to reflect less than full-time employment or less than maximum compensation and (ii) does not adjust less-than-full-time service to reflect the equivalent of full-time hours or compensation (as the case may be), the plan may not further prorate benefit accrual under section 204(b)(3)(B) of the Act and section 411(b)(3)(B) of the Code by crediting less than full years of participation, as would otherwise be permitted under paragraph © of this section. These plans must credit, except when service may be disregarded under section 204(b)(3)© of the Act and section 411(b)(3)© of the Code (relating to less than 1000 hours of service), less-than-full-time employees with a full year of participation for the purpose of accrual of benefits.

1.401(a)(4)-12 under Section 414(s) compensation

(4) Double proration of service and compensation. If a defined benefit plan prorates benefit accruals as permitted under section 411(b)(4)(B) by crediting less than full years of participation, then compensation for a plan year, 12-month period, or other specified period that is used to determine the amount of an employee's benefits under the plan will not fail to be section 414(s) compensation, merely because the amount of compensation for that period is adjusted to reflect the equivalent of full-time compensation to the extent necessary to satisfy the requirements of 29 CFR 2530.204-2(d) (regarding double proration of service and compensation). This adjustment is disregarded in determining whether the underlying definition of compensation used satisfies the requirements of section 414(s). Thus, for example, if the underlying definition of compensation is an alternative definition that must satisfy the nondiscrimination requirement of §1.414(s)-1(d)(3), in determining whether that requirement is satisfied with regard to the underlying definition, the compensation included for any employee is determined without any adjustment to reflect the equivalent of full-time compensation required by 29 CFR 2530.204-2(d).

[John Feldt ERPA CPC QPA]

Just for the record, since I found this. Double proration is prohibited in ERISA plans under 411, so it does not apply.