2026 RS Plan Benefit Estimate Reminders – NRECA Employee Benefits Weekly

As we move into the fall, many cooperative employees who are eligible for full or quasi-retirement will be requesting benefit estimates from the Retirement Security (RS) Plan. To ensure timely and accurate completion of these requests, please be aware of the following timing.

Benefits administrators can run 2025 estimates on the Employee Benefits website. If the online estimate tool indicates that a special (manual) calculation is necessary, requests for 2025 and 2026 estimates should be submitted using the “special request” link by October 31, 2025, to guarantee delivery of these estimates before the end of 2025. Please provide any special handling instructions in the comment section of the special request.

2026 interest rates expected in the coming weeks
As previously shared with co-ops, the interest rates that are used to calculate single cash payments in the RS Plan for the upcoming plan year will be determined much sooner than in years past. Rates are expected to be announced in the coming weeks—stay tuned to NRECA Employee Benefits Weekly for details. Until then, 2026 estimates will be run using assumed rates based on the mid-year adjustment in May.

This means that participants who want to compare benefit estimates for a possible distribution event in the current year versus the upcoming year can now get that information with more than two months of lead time, instead of having to make a rushed request and decision in the final days of the year.

Option form reminders
Please note that if participants request option forms in early October for an event date in 2026, NRECA will hold the forms and send them once 2026 rates are available, so that they contain benefit estimates based upon the correct interest rates for the upcoming year.

Participants who want to receive a single cash payment or begin annuity payments by a certain date should submit their request for benefit election paperwork at least 45 days before that desired payment date.

Resources for participants
You may wish to share this flier with participants; it explains the relationship between interest rates and single cash payments. For assistance with retirement distribution questions, participants can contact the Personal Investment & Retirement Consulting (PIRC) team at pirc@nreca.coop, or 866.673.2299, option 6 from 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Central time.