Flat Amount
Definition of "Flat amount"
Same as term Defined Benefit Plan: retirement plan under which benefits are fixed in advance by formula, and contributions vary. The defined benefit plan can be expressed in either of two ways:
- Fixed Dollars: Unit benefit approach a discrete unit of benefit is credited for each year of service recognized by the employer.The unit is either a flat dollar amount or (more often) a percentage of compensation usually 1 1/2-2 1/2%. Total years of service are multiplied by this percentage. For example, if total years of service is 30 and the percentage is VA, 45% would be applied to either the career average earnings or final average earnings (highest three of five consecutive years of earnings). If the average of the highest five consecutive years of earnings is $100,000, the yearly retirement benefit would be $45,000. Level Percentage of Compensation After a minimum number of years of service (usually 20) and a minimum age (usually 50), all employees will receive the same percentage of earnings as a retirement benefit, regardless of income, position in the company, or years of service. For example, each employee who is at least 50 years of age, with at least 20 years of service receives 20% of compensation. This plan is more common than the flat amount approach described below, Flat Amount After having attained a minimum number of years of service (usually 20) and a minimum age (usually 50), all employees will receive the same absolute dollar amount as a retirement benefit, regardless of income, position in the company, or years of service. For example, each employee who is at least 50 years of age, with at least 20 years of service receives $8000 a year in retirement benefits.
- Variable Dollars: Cost-of-Living Plan benefits are modified according to changes in a predetermined price index usually, the Consumer Price Index (CPI). For example, when the CPI increases by at least 3% benefits are increased by that percentage, Equity Annuity Plan premiums are paid into a variable annuity plan to purchase accumulation units. At retirement, the accumulation units are converted to retirement units whose values fluctuate according to the common stock portfolio in which the premiums we reinvested.
Popular Insurance Terms
Clause in a disability income insurance policy that will adjust the amount of the monthly income payment upwards according to a stipulated annual percentage for a given number of ...
act that prohibits employers from requiring employees to retire at age 70. Also, the act prohibits EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS from discriminating against employees in the 40 to 70 age group ...
Joint profit sharing and money purchase plan that is appropriate for businesses that desire the funding flexibility of the profit sharing plan and the higher tax-deductible (25% vs. 15%) ...
Sanction or affirmation by an insurance company of acts of its agents that become the acts of the company, with all the legal obligations these acts entail. ...
Requirement that the insured must have stayed in a hospital or other health care facility for at least a specified period of time before being entitled to receive insurance benefits. This ...
Clause in an insurance policy that provides for the payment of a monetary sum to the individual (s) who incurred the loss. ...
Law, in several states, establishing a fund to guarantee benefits under policies issued by insurance companies that become insolvent. ...
Maritime acts resulting in a liability circumstance falling under common law and statutory law. ...
Same as term Cost-Of-Living Adjustment: automatic adjustment applied to Social Security retirement payments when the consumer price index increases at a rate of at least 3%, the first ...
Have a question or comment?
We're here to help.