Funded Status
In pension accounting, funded status refers to the extent to which a plan's liabilities are ‘funded’ by plan assets. It equals the net liability or net asset of the pension plan, which in turn equals the fair value of total plan assets minus the projected defined benefit obligation.
Determination of funded status
Funded status is determined by comparing the fair value of plan assets with pension liability.
| Funded status = Fair value of plan assets − Projected defined benefit obligation |
Plan assets are the investments of the pension fund. These may include investment in the company's stock, other stocks listed on any stock exchange, exchange-traded funds, bonds, etc.
Projected defined benefit obligation (also known as present value of defined benefit plan) is the present value of expected pension payments which the employees are entitled to receive based on the service they have provided to date.
Presentation in the statement of financial position
When the fair value of plan assets exceeds the projected defined benefit obligation, a net pension asset equal to the excess of fair value of plan assets over the projected benefit obligation is reported in the statement of financial position. Such a fund is called an overfunded plan.
On the other hand, if the projected defined benefit obligation exceeds the fair value of plan assets, a net liability equal to the excess of defined benefit obligation over the fair value of plan assets is reported in the statement of financial position. Such a plan is called an underfunded plan.
Example
FS Ltd. has a defined benefit pension plan. As at 31 December 20X1, its plan assets had a book value of $140 million and fair value of $160 million. The PBO at that time was $150 million. During the year, the company contributed an amount of $20 million to the fund, the fund paid out $15 million and earned a return of $10 million. Service costs were $30 million, interest cost were $12 million and actuarial gains were $3 million.
Solution
As at 31 December 20X1, the funded status is $10 million ($160 million minus $150 million) and it would be reported as an asset in the statement of financial position.
After one year, i.e. as at 31 December 20X2, new fair value of plan assets is:
| USD in Millions | |
| Opening fair value of plan assets | 160 |
| Contributions received | 20 |
| Benefits paid | (15) |
| Actual return on plan assets | 10 |
| Closing fair value of plan assets | 175 |
The projected defined benefit obligation as at 31 December 20X2 will equal $180 million as calculated below:
| USD in Millions | |
| Opening PBO | 150 |
| Service cost | 35 |
| Interest cost | 12 |
| Benefits paid | (15) |
| Actuarial gain | (2) |
| Closing PBO | 180 |
Funded status as at 31 December 20X2 would be -$5 million which represents a net pension liability of $5 million to be reported in the statement of financial position.
by Obaidullah Jan, ACA, CFA and last modified on