General FAQs

To verify an employee’s account has been established, you may log on or call based on the information below. Please use your plan account number as a guide.

• MetLife Online: For plans with 7 digits only (i.e., 1234567), you can access your plan records at online.metlife.com. You can also contact Plan Services at 800-842-3330.
• PSC: If your plan account number has 7 digits followed by an extension (i.e., 1234567-01), you can access your plan records at psc.metlife.com. You can also contact Plan Services at 800-856-7772.

MetLife has entered into a servicing agreement with MassMutual to provide registered representatives to service some of its non-ERISA group retirement plans.¹

To enroll online in MetLife products please visit: MetLife.com/enrollnow

Our national RMC Territory Map can help you locate your director.

Click here to see the current year’s contribution limits.

An ERISA plan is required to file IRS Form 5500 each year.

For plans with 100 or more participants at the beginning of the plan year, an independent auditor’s opinion may be required. The Department of Labor uses an 80/120 rule to determine if a plan requires auditing. For example, if a plan filed as a small plan in the prior year and the number of eligible participants is less than 121 at the beginning of the current plan year, the plan may continue to file as a small plan (i.e., not subject to an audit). 

Sponsors of Pension and welfare benefit plans subject to ERISA must generally file an annual  Form 5500 to report on their plan’s financial condition, investments and operations.

Due date: the last day of the seventh month after the plan year ends (July 31^st for a calendar-year plan). If MetLife provides you with compliance services we will file Form 5558 on your behalf extending the due date by 2 ½ months (October 15^th for a calendar year plan).

Plan sponsors have a responsibility to make certain that participants receive timely notification of certain events that impact their retirement plans. The following is a list of retirement plan notices that are mandatory or transactional in nature that may need to be provided to participants. It also includes various options available to plan sponsors for distributing notices to participants. Similar rules apply to plan beneficiaries.

Plans Subject to ERISA

• Blackout Notice
  • At least 30 days, but no more than 60 days, before the start of the blackout period.
• ERISA 204(h) written notice of an amendment making a significant reduction in the rate of future benefit accrual. Does not apply to 403(b) plans.
• Participant Fee Disclosure
  • On or before the date on which a participant can first direct his or her investments, and annually thereafter.
• Qualified Default Investment Alternative (QDIA) Notice
  • Annually, at least 30 days before the beginning of the plan year or before the initial investment into the QDIA, as applicable.
• Summary Annual Report (SAR)
  • Annually, no later than nine months after the end of the plan year. If Form 5558 is filed to extend the due date of Form 5500, the SAR must be issued within two months after the extended due date for filing for Form 5500.
• Summary of Material Modifications (SMM)
  • No later than 210 days after the end of the plan year in which the change was adopted.
• Summary Plan Description (SPD)
  • New Plans — No later than 120 days after the later of the effective date or the plan’s adoption date.
  • Existing Plans that have amended a term that must be included in the SPD — No later than 210 days after the end of the plan year in which the plan was amended, but must reflect plan changes made up to 120 days before it is distributed.
  • New Participants — Within 90 days of an employee becoming a participant in the plan.
• Written Notice of Intent to Comply with 404(c)
  • At least annually.

All 403(b) Plans

• Universal Availability Notice
  • Provide annually to all eligible participants.

All Plans (as applicable)

• Benefit claims and appeal denial notices
• Individual Benefit Statements
  • Participants allowed to direct investments — At least quarterly.
  • Participants NOT allowed to direct investments — At least annually.
• Permissible Withdrawals — Eligible Automatic Contribution Arrangements (EACAs)
• QDRO processing notices
• QJSA/QPSA Notice — Describes spouses’ joint annuity rights for plans subject to these rules.
  • QJSA Notice — 180 to 30 days before annuity starting date; the 30-day limitation is subject to waiver.
• Rollover Special Tax Notice — 402(f)
  • Prior to distribution. Applies to eligible rollover distributions and in-plan Roth conversions.
• Safe Harbor Notice (ADP/ACP/QACAs)
  • No earlier than 90 days, and no later than 30 days, prior to the beginning of the plan year.
• Withholding notice for payments not eligible for rollover — 3405(e)(10)(B)(1).
• Automatic Contribution Arrangements
  • Plans are required to provide affected participants notice of their rights and obligations under such arrangements. ERISA Section 514(e)(3).

Participant Notice Distribution Options

• For active employees with ongoing access to email AT WORK, the disclosure notices may be provided personally, via postal mail or electronically. If electronically, the plan administrator must provide advance notice that the disclosures will be sent electronically and offer participants a paper copy at no charge. The plan administrator must also ensure the recipient actually receives the disclosure, such as by including a return-receipt request.
• For active employees without access to email AT WORK, the disclosure notices may be provided personally or via postal mail. If the plan administrator wishes to send them to personal email addresses at the participant’s home, participants must affirmatively agree to this. However, it may be difficult to comply with the requirements and ensure actual receipt of the notices if sent this way.
• For terminated participants, disclosure notices are normally sent via postal mail.
• Disclosure notices may be posted on a company’s intranet; however this does not satisfy requirements because the plan administrator must ensure that everyone has seen the notice.

This list of participant notices is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all notice requirements. Additional notices may be required for various types of retirement plans.

If you have to modify a plan provision and require an amendment, please contact us at plandocgoup@metlife.com. In the email please reference your plan name and the plan number.

When adding Automatic Enrollment to an ERISA retirement plan, a default fund must be selected for those participants who have not otherwise made investment choices. Plan fiduciaries are potentially liable for assets that are invested in the default fund on behalf of these participants.

Default investments that meet QDIA guidelines can limit fiduciary liability.  To qualify as a QDIA under the United States Department of Labor (DOL) guidelines, an investment must:

• Not hold or allow the acquisition of employer securities except in limited circumstances
• Permit participants to transfer out to another investment without penalty
• Have long-term QDIAs generally be either managed by an investment manager or be a mutual fund and be a specified type of investment fund

The Department of Labor (DOL) requires that eligible employees receive both initial and annual notifications that describe these QDIA details at the following points in time:

• Initial QDIA Notices: Must be provided at least 30 days prior to the date the participant’s assets are first defaulted into a QDIA unless the plan offers a permissible withdrawal
• Annual QDIA Notices: Must be provided at least 30 days prior to the beginning of each plan year

According to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), for every ERISA covered retirement plan (e.g., 401(k) plan) there are certain fiduciary responsibilities for managing the plan assets with the care, skill, prudence and diligence of a prudent expert and by diversifying the investments of the plan so as to minimize the risk of large losses. The IPS documents these fiduciary responsibilities and ensures fiduciaries are adhering to these responsibilities.

Under ERISA, all qualified plan trustees have a special responsibility to “prudently” manage their plan assets for the sole benefit of the plan participants. ERISA and the Department of Labor have established the following prudent procedures for plan trustees:

• An investment policy must be established
• Plan assets must be diversified
• Investment decisions must be made with the skill and care of a prudent expert
• Prohibited transactions must be avoided

A properly written IPS should help ensure compliance with these required procedures. The IPS sets forth the objectives, restrictions, funding requirements and general investment structure for the management of the plan’s assets, and provides the basis for evaluating the plan’s investment results. By establishing the criteria and procedures for selecting investments and investment managers, an IPS can minimize “Monday morning quarterbacking” if investment performance is disappointing.

An IPS also can help plan fiduciaries communicate a plan’s investment guidelines and procedures to those assisting in the investment process, such as investment advisors or money managers. Finally, and most importantly, an IPS provides a guide for making future investment decisions. Having and using the policy statement compels the trustees to be more disciplined and systematic, which in itself should improve the odds of meeting the investment goals.

Hardship distributions are covered in detail on the IRS site, visit https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/retirement-plans-faqs-regarding-hardship-distributions for additional details. 

There are many requirements to make a valid rollover contribution including the 60-day requirement. Assuming other requirements are satisfied, you have 60 days from the date you receive a distribution from an IRA or retirement plan to roll it over to another plan or IRA. If you don’t roll over your payment, it will be taxable (other than qualified Roth distributions and any amounts already taxed) and you may also be subject to additional tax unless you’re eligible for one of the exceptions to the 10% additional tax on early distributions. The IRS may waive the 60-day rollover requirement in certain situations if you missed the deadline because of circumstances beyond your control.

Please visit https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/retirement-plans-faqs-relating-to-waivers-of-the-60-day-rollover-requirement for additional information.