filing 5500 with staggered benefit ann. dates

[Guest morris]

The group has a plan # that contains 2 separate benefits (life and LTD) that are on differing anniversary dates (1/1 and 6/1). Thus the schedule A's come in at different times. I have heard that there is a way this can be done. What is the process for doing this?

Thanks!

[Bill Presson]

The group has a plan # that contains 2 separate benefits (life and LTD) that are on differing anniversary dates (1/1 and 6/1). Thus the schedule A's come in at different times. I have heard that there is a way this can be done. What is the process for doing this?

Thanks!

If you have a welfare plan "wrapper" so that they are all part of the same plan, you could report both on the calendar year 2011 5500 and use the matching schedule A and the schedule A ending within that year. Many, many plans are like this.

[chc93]

The group has a plan # that contains 2 separate benefits (life and LTD) that are on differing anniversary dates (1/1 and 6/1). Thus the schedule A's come in at different times. I have heard that there is a way this can be done. What is the process for doing this?

Thanks!

If you have a welfare plan "wrapper" so that they are all part of the same plan, you could report both on the calendar year 2011 5500 and use the matching schedule A and the schedule A ending within that year. Many, many plans are like this.

This is how we do it too. I think the only "requirement" is to be consistent year-to-year.

[Bill Presson]

The group has a plan # that contains 2 separate benefits (life and LTD) that are on differing anniversary dates (1/1 and 6/1). Thus the schedule A's come in at different times. I have heard that there is a way this can be done. What is the process for doing this?

Thanks!

If you have a welfare plan "wrapper" so that they are all part of the same plan, you could report both on the calendar year 2011 5500 and use the matching schedule A and the schedule A ending within that year. Many, many plans are like this.

This is how we do it too. I think the only "requirement" is to be consistent year-to-year.

Agreed.

[Guest morris]

Thanks, folks. I don't like this method because the group has to remember to hold/delay one Schedule A. This is a relatively small group with little expertise. I think the best long term solution is to get one of the benefits on a short plan year to bring it back into sync with the other benefit's ann. date.

Again--thanks for your help!

[Bill Presson]

Thanks, folks. I don't like this method because the group has to remember to hold/delay one Schedule A. This is a relatively small group with little expertise. I think the best long term solution is to get one of the benefits on a short plan year to bring it back into sync with the other benefit's ann. date.

Again--thanks for your help!

Two things:

1. Have them send you the Schedule A when it comes in and you can hold it for them.

2. Define "relatively small group". Because if it's under 100 participants, they don't have to file at all.