On August 3, 2022, in a welcome and surprising move, the IRS released Notice 2022-33, providing for an extension for qualified retirement plans to adopt amendments under the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 (“SECURE Act”), the Bipartisan Miners Act of 2019 (the “Miners Act”) (which provided defined benefit plans with an optional reduction in the minimum age for in-service distributions from age 62 to 59½), and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), the requirement s of which are described here, here, and here.

Specifically, non-governmental qualified plans (including non-collectively bargained plans) will have until December 31, 2025 to adopt any of the optional or required changes under the SECURE Act, Miners Act, and CARES Act.  Prior to this guidance, non-governmental and non-collectively bargained plans had until the last day of the plan year beginning on or after January 1, 2022 to adopt these amendments.  For calendar year plans that meant amendments had to be made by December 31, 2022. Collectively-bargained and governmental plans had until the last day of the plan year beginning on or after January 1, 2024.

In considering this extension, note that the CARES Act extension only applies to the optional waiver of required minimum distributions for 2020 and does not apply to the optional loan relief or CARES Act distributions. Thus, if a plan adopted any of the CARES Act optional loan relief or distributions, the non-governmental, non-collectively bargained plan must still be amended by the last day of the plan year beginning on or after January 1, 2022.

This extension is welcome for many plan administrators and sponsors who are still waiting for final IRS guidance on many of the SECURE Act’s provisions, including required post-death distribution rules, rules governing the inclusion of long-term part-time employees, and more.  The IRS noted in Notice 2022-33 that it expects SECURE Act guidance to be issued with the 2023 Required Amendment list, so all changes under the SECURE, Miners, and CARES Act can be adopted by plan sponsors at the same time.

Updated as of August 4, 2022

Photo of Paul M. Hamburger Paul M. Hamburger

Paul Hamburger is co-chair of the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Group and head of the Washington, DC office. Paul is also a leader of the Practice Center’s health and welfare subgroup and a member of Proskauer’s Health Care Reform Task Force.

Paul…

Paul Hamburger is co-chair of the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Group and head of the Washington, DC office. Paul is also a leader of the Practice Center’s health and welfare subgroup and a member of Proskauer’s Health Care Reform Task Force.

Paul provides technical knowledge and advice to employers on all aspects of their employee benefit programs, and advises employee benefit plan trustees and service providers on ERISA and employee benefit plan-related matters. He has extensive experience in negotiating service provider and outsourcing agreements. Paul frequently represents clients before government regulatory agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

Paul focuses on all matters affecting employee benefit plans, including:

  • 401(k) plans, ESOPs, and defined benefit plans, including cash balance pension plans
  • Executive compensation plans and agreements
  • Welfare benefit plans, including cafeteria plan, COBRA, and health care reform (PPACA) issues

Recognized by a number of publications for his exceptional work, Paul is described by The Legal 500 United States as “one of the best in his field; he inspires a high level of confidence and is a pleasure to work with.” Chambers USA notes that Paul’s clients refer to him as “a creative, business-oriented and brilliant lawyer who educates and enlightens.”

As a noted thought leader in his field, Paul frequently speaks on employee benefit matters. In addition, he served for several years as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center teaching the LL.M. tax course on ERISA Health and Welfare Benefit Plans.

An author of numerous articles on employee benefits matters, Paul has produced a number of nationally-circulated loose leaf publications, published by Thompson Information Services: Mandated Health Benefits – The COBRA Guide, The Guide to Assigning & Loaning Benefit Plan Money, and The Pension Plan Fix-It Handbook. Most recently, he was the managing author of the 6th edition of The New Health Care Reform Law – What Employers Need to Know (A Q&A Guide), published by Thompson HR.

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Photo of Mary Grace Richardson Mary Grace Richardson

Mary Grace Richardson is an associate in the Labor & Employment Department and a member of the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Group.

In the employee benefits area, Mary Grace’s practice focuses on an array of tax and benefits issues impacting both multiemployer…

Mary Grace Richardson is an associate in the Labor & Employment Department and a member of the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Group.

In the employee benefits area, Mary Grace’s practice focuses on an array of tax and benefits issues impacting both multiemployer and single-employer benefit plans and plan fiduciaries. She assists clients on matters pertaining to plan administration, design and qualification, as well as regulatory, legislative and legal compliance.

Prior to joining Proskauer, Mary Grace clerked for Chief Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana.

Mary Grace received her J.D. and diploma in comparative law, magna cum laude, from Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law School. At LSU, she served as a senior editor of the Louisiana Law Review and was a member of the Order of the Coif.

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