Expanded Assistance for DGA Members: DGA Plans Board of Trustees Increases Limits of Temporary Loans from Your Supplemental Plan Account Balance

PHP

October 7, 2020

As part of ongoing relief efforts for members experiencing financial hardship during the COVID-19 crisis, the DGA Plans announced the expansion of its temporary loan program. To further assist participants, the Board of Trustees of the Directors Guild of America – Producer Pension and Health Plans unanimously voted to increase the limits of temporary loans from participants’ Supplemental Plan balances as follows:

  • Participants are now allowed up to 4 outstanding loans at one time (increased from 2).
  • The maximum combined loan amount has been amended to the lesser of:
    • $40,000 (increased from $20,000), or
    • 20% of your total Supplemental Plan Account Balance (unchanged).

Before applying for a loan, participants are encouraged to seek alternative means of support in order to preserve your retirement funds to the extent possible and ensure the availability of adequate financial resources during your later years. Other options may include bank loans or other emergency resources, including those provided by the various relief funds available to entertainment industry workers.

A summary of key loan terms and exclusions are available below.


Summary of Key Loan Terms and Exclusions

(Click the Full Terms button at the bottom of this page for a complete description of loan terms.)

Key Loan Terms

  • Loan amount is limited to the lesser of $40,000 or 20% of your account balance.
  • Minimum loan amount is $1,000.
  • Loan amounts will be permitted only from the vested portion of your account balance.
  • Interest rate for every loan is set at prime plus 1% and is fixed for the life of the loan.
  • Up to four (4) outstanding loans (not to exceed $40,000 in total) will be allowed at any time during the loan availability period.
  • Loan repayments must be made quarterly, beginning with the first full quarter following the quarter in which the loan is distributed.
  • Loan must be fully repaid within 5 years, and can be repaid in full at any time without penalty.
  • For married participants, spousal consent will be required for loans of $5,000 or more.

Exclusions

Loans will not be permitted for:

  • Participants whose Supplemental Plan accounts are subject to a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO), unless such QDRO is a separate interest QDRO, and the participant’s and alternate payee’s accounts have been segregated.

Additional information is available on the Plans website at: https://www.dgaplans.org/blog-post/board-of-trustees-increases-loan-limits-from-your-supplemental-plan-account-through-december-31-2020/