Yes! You can use AI to fill out ABA Retirement Funds Program Distribution Request Form

This form is exclusively for distributions from a full-service plan after employment termination. Applicants often mistakenly use it for other purposes like Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), in-service withdrawals, or hardship requests, all of which require different, specific forms. This error leads to immediate rejection and requires the applicant to start the entire process over with the correct paperwork, causing significant delays. To avoid this, carefully read the instructions at the top of the form to ensure your situation matches its intended use.

The form has very strict rules about how it can be submitted, and choosing the wrong method guarantees a rejection. For example, if spousal consent is notarized, the form must be physically mailed for the seal to be verified; emailing it is not allowed. Conversely, emailing a form and then mailing the original will cause the transaction to be processed twice. To prevent this, review the delivery instructions carefully and choose the single correct method based on your form's requirements, especially if a notary is involved.

Sections 1, 2, and 3 are explicitly marked to be completed by the Employer/Plan Sponsor, including plan numbers, vested percentages, and a required signature. Participants sometimes fill these sections out themselves, providing incorrect data or leaving the mandatory employer signature blank. This results in the form being considered 'not in good order' and rejected, as the plan administrator cannot process a distribution without official employer verification. Always submit the form to your authorized plan representative first to have them complete and sign their required sections.

For married participants in certain plan types (e.g., non-profit sharing plans), waiving the default annuity benefit requires spousal consent in Section 11. Common mistakes include forgetting the spouse's signature, having the signature witnessed by the participant instead of a notary or plan representative, or the witness date not matching the spouse's signature date. An incomplete or improperly witnessed consent section will lead to an automatic rejection of the request. This is a critical step that must be completed perfectly to proceed.

In Section 6, when requesting a partial or installment payment, applicants must be precise. People often provide ambiguous instructions, such as writing a number without specifying if it's a dollar amount ($) or a percentage (%), or selecting both a dollar amount and a number of payments for installments. While the form may default to a pro-rata distribution, any ambiguity can cause delays as the processor may need to seek clarification or reject the form. Ensure all payment instructions are clear, specific, and mutually exclusive.

When completing a direct rollover in Section 9, errors in the receiving institution's information are frequent. Applicants may provide an incomplete name, exceed the 30-character limit for the payee, or fail to select the correct destination account type (e.g., IRA vs. Roth IRA). These mistakes can lead to the rollover being rejected or, worse, processed incorrectly, creating unintended tax consequences for the participant. Double-check the receiving institution's name and rollover requirements before submitting.

Participants who have a PCRA must complete the specific actions outlined in Section 7, which involve either liquidating the account or arranging an electronic transfer. Many participants with these accounts overlook this section entirely. Failure to complete this section will halt the distribution process, as the funds in the PCRA cannot be moved until these explicit instructions are provided and acted upon. If you have a PCRA, this section is not optional.

The participant and spousal signatures in Sections 10 and 11 are only valid for 180 days from the date they are signed. It is common for individuals to sign the form but delay submitting it to the plan administrator for various reasons. If the form is received after the 180-day window has passed, it is considered expired and will be rejected, requiring all parties to sign and date a new form. To avoid this, ensure the form is submitted promptly after all signatures are gathered.

Certain distribution reasons require additional proof. For instance, if selecting 'disability' as the reason for the request in Section 5, the applicant must include a Notice of Disability from the Social Security Administration or a long-term disability plan. Forgetting to attach this mandatory documentation will render the form 'not in good order' and suspend processing until the required proof is provided. Always check if your selected reason for distribution requires supplementary paperwork.

Simple data entry errors in Section 4, such as a mistyped Social Security Number, address, or date of birth, are a frequent cause of rejection. Since the address is used for mailing checks and determining tax withholding, an error can cause lost payments or tax complications. AI-powered tools like Instafill.ai can help prevent these mistakes by auto-filling information and validating data formats, ensuring accuracy. If the form is a non-fillable PDF, Instafill.ai can also convert it into an interactive, fillable version to reduce manual entry errors.