Can a participant NOT a 5% owner who elected to receive the MRD after the 1996 change now elect to stop receiving the distributions?

What does the plan say? Sorry to be so blunt, but that is very often the first question to ask? Also, what type of plan is this? May be very easy to deal with this in a DC plan (assuming no J&S language) but not so easy in a DB plan.

A great many (DB) plans contain language such that once a benefit begins, its form cannot be altered by the participant or the plan sponsor.

Sorry, I was asking the question in general. I was thinking of DC plans. I have to present a little presentation on the subject, and the question came to my mind. So I thought I'd ask.

Thanks, Mary Lou

Announcement 97-24 is the only guidance I can think of that is on-point.

It states that, under certain circumstances, an election to stop receiving destributions may violate the qualification requirements such as 411(a)(11) and 417.

I believe that it is speaking more directly to distributions to people who turned 70.5 before 1995, but I don't see why it wouldn't apply on your example as well.