Benefit application prior to certified critical

[benpat3]

If a participant applies for early retirement prior to the plan being certified as critical but the benefit payments would not start until after certification (notice of critical status), can the benefit be cut? No cutback can be made when the participant/beneficiary is already receiving the benefits, but what if the benefit has no yet started payment?

Thanks

[Blinky the 3-eyed Fish]

What do you mean by "certified as critical"?