It only requires that those who establish plans must meet certain minimum standards. .manual-search-block #edit-actions--2 {order:2;} UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR . Washington, DC 20210 This also allows plan administrators and practitioners the opportunity to better understand and comply with the law. 200 Constitution Ave NW ), Getting documents or statements from your plan, Notice of potential private pension from the Social Security Administration, Eligibility for employer sponsored benefits, Plan operation (such as funds not being deposited in the plan, employer has not paid premiums, investments, etc. 202-693-8544Assistant Chief 202-693-8500Division of Fiduciary [CDATA[/* >*/. Send applications for exemptions to: U.S. Department of Labor Frequently Asked Questions | U.S. Department of Labor - DOL Yes; No; A plan may not impose an annual dollar limit on mental health/substance use disorder benefits that is lower than the annual dollar limit imposed on medical/surgical benefits. EBSA also conducts education and outreach events for workers, employers, plan officials, and members of Congress. This fact sheet has been developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Washington, DC, 20220. Norman Jackson - Acting Terminated Vested Participant Benefit Payments. Voluntary Correction Programs. 202-693-8421, Division of Consumer and Compliance Outreach and Education Ask a real person any government-related question for free. She is a graduate of the ABA Section of Labor and Employment Laws Leadership Development Program and served as the Union Co-Chair for that Program. .usa-footer .container {max-width:1440px!important;} #block-googletagmanagerfooter .field { padding-bottom:0 !important; } Mr. Hauser graduated from Harvard Law School in 1985. Choosing a Retirement Solution for Your Small Business . This division is also responsible for the administration of the Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program. Find easy-to-understand answers to common questions health care, retirement, and other employee benefit plans. Suite N-5655 .h1 {font-family:'Merriweather';font-weight:700;} EBSA balances proactive enforcement with compliance assistance and works diligently to provide quality assistance to plan participants and beneficiaries. 200 Constitution Ave NW 202-693-8434. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. The name and telephone number of the analyst will also be provided as the contact person for information concerning the status of the application. Rod Dunlap Requests for guidance related to Part 7 of Title I of ERISA, those provisions related to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act, the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act the Mental Health Parity provisions and the COBRA continuation health coverage provisions included in ERISA, among other laws, are handled by EBSA's Office of Health Plan Standards and Compliance Assistance (OHPSCA). Suite N-5677 .usa-footer .container {max-width:1440px!important;} Important Note: Title I of ERISA provides Participants and Beneficiaries with certain rights to request documents and file claims and appeals related to obtaining benefits. An official website of the United States government. ORA is organized into two divisions: the Division of Regulatory Policy Analysis participates in the development and promulgation of all EBSA rules, assessing rules' economic impacts pursuant to applicable OMB and Congressional mandates; and the Division of Economic Research and Analysis conducts and disseminates economic research calibrated to advance EBSA's mission and expand economic knowledge related to employee benefits. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 200 Constitution Ave NW Washington, DC 20210 1-866-4-USA-DOL 1-866-487-2365 TTY Lisa served as a Co-Chair of the Board of Senior Editors of the Bloomberg BNA treatise Employee Benefits Law. Lynn Johnson - Acting .manual-search ul.usa-list li {max-width:100%;} You must enable JavaScript to add multiple employers. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. Health Benefits Advisor for Employers Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) Does your group health plan have reasonable procedures for providing notice of the extension of an 18-month period of COBRA coverage due to a second qualifying event or disability determination by the SSA? @media (max-width: 992px){.usa-js-mobile-nav--active, .usa-mobile_nav-active {overflow: auto!important;}} 1335 East-West Hwy Plan administrators will receive an initial phone call ( not a letter) from an EBSA benefits advisor if a participant has requested assistance. Office Director Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Shelley Johnson 202-693-8500, U.S. Department of Labor Janet Walters She was a member of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and the AFL-CIO Union Lawyers Alliance. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. ), Retirement/Pension Plan (such as 401(k), defined benefit, profit sharing, etc. Your Information 2. header #header-content .agency-submenu.cd-primary-nav > li a span.menuarrow { font-size: 14px; } Liam Roberts The ERISA Fiduciary Advisor is one of a series of elaws (Employment Laws Assistance for Workers and Small Businesses) Advisors developed by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to help employers and employees understand their rights and responsibilities under Federal employment laws. EBSA developed this Small Business Retirement Savings Advisor to answer a variety of commonly asked questions about retirement . To contact an EBSA Benefits Advisor, go to askebsa.dol.gov and click the link that says Ask a question or call 1-866-444-3272. EBSA's goal in providing direct assistance is to raise the knowledge level of plan participants and beneficiaries, plan sponsors, service providers and other interested parties and to ensure that they have access to available plan documents filed with the Department of Labor. elaws - Health Benefits Advisor for Employers 202-693-8540. However, in cases where voluntary compliance efforts have failed or are inappropriate, EBSA sends a litigation recommendation to the Solicitor of Labor. Chris Cosby 202-693-8673Division of Legislative Policy Analysis .cd-main-content p, blockquote {margin-bottom:1em;} 1-866-487-2365 1-866-4-USA-DOL Employee Benefits Security Administration Carol Hamilton div#block-eoguidanceviewheader .dol-alerts p {padding: 0;margin: 0;} 202-693-8665ERISA Advisory Council Executive Secretary Applicants will be treated courteously and with respect. Fax: 202-219-6531, Deputy Office Director Washington, DC 20210 /*-->*/. .manual-search ul.usa-list li {max-width:100%;} We can help answer questions on issues such as: Check below for answers to your questions or tell us about it. Our policy is to fill all requests for: Form 5500s within five days Other documents on hand in the Public Disclosure Room within 10 days .h1 {font-family:'Merriweather';font-weight:700;} .usa-footer .grid-container {padding-left: 30px!important;} Your information will also be logged in EBSA's tracking system so that there is a record of the question, concern, or complaint that you have brought to our attention. In FY 2022, EBSA opened 268 new investigations based on Benefits Advisors referrals. Office Director elaws - Health Benefits Advisor for Employers Washington, DC 20210 .table thead th {background-color:#f1f1f1;color:#222;} The Office also plans and coordinates IT with the OCIO. #block-googletagmanagerfooter .field { padding-bottom:0 !important; } If at all possible, please include both your email address and your day-time telephone number so that we can respond to you promptly. .dol-alert-status-error .alert-status-container {display:inline;font-size:1.4em;color:#e31c3d;} @media only screen and (min-width: 0px){.agency-nav-container.nav-is-open {overflow-y: unset!important;}} .table thead th {background-color:#f1f1f1;color:#222;} 202-693-8715Division of Field Operations and Support Nicole Swift #dol-search {margin:0;} Fax: 202-219-8141, Division of Field Operations and Technical Assistance Caitlin Wyant Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. The Office provides guidance and support to Agency managers in accomplishment of these responsibilities. header #header-content .agency-submenu.cd-primary-nav .usa-nav-topics li a:hover {border-bottom:5px solid transparent;}} Atlanta, GA 30303 The Office provides support and technical guidance to EBSA's field offices and assures regional input into Agency and DOL programs. Fax: 202-219-5526. 200 Constitution Ave NW elaws - Health Benefits Advisor for Employers - DOL OMB Control Number: 1210-0146 Exp. We will be sensitive to your situation but may not always be able to provide you with a solution. Please contact us by phone at 1-866-444-3272, or. EBSA's Benefits Advisor Program | STTC Awards Those who file complaints with us can expect a prompt and courteous response from our staff. Fax: 202-693-8736, An agency within the U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution AveNW USAGov is the official guide to government information and services, Directory of U.S. Government Agencies and Departments, Employee Benefits Security Administration, A-Z index of U.S. government departments and agencies, Indian tribes and resources for Native Americans, Contact the Employee Benefits Security Administration, Directory of U.S. government agencies and departments. Employee Benefits Security Administration | USAGov /*-->*/. The office generally answers inquiries from individuals and organizations in the form of advisory opinions, which apply the law to a specific set of facts, or information letters, which merely call attention to well established principles or interpretations. 200 Constitution Ave NW Date: 03/31/2024, Health Plan (such as medical, dental, vision, etc. Fax: 202-219-1942, Division of Regulations and Standards Office Director Lots of Benefits, Publication 4118, discusses the benefits of sponsoring and participating in a retirement plan (also available in Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, and . We are available to explain how the relevant statutes EBSA enforces apply to you and, in appropriate cases, the Agency will make inquiries on your behalf and seek resolution of disputes. The Employee Benefits Security Administration's Choosing a Retirement Solution for Your Small Business . Through these efforts, OHPSCA works to ensure that the group health plan requirements of ERISA and other related laws are implemented so that ERISA plan participants and beneficiaries receive the benefits to which they are entitled. And sometimes. EBSAs Office of Research and Analysis (ORA) reports directly to EBSAs Deputy Assistant Secretary for Program Operations and performs four core functions: (1) economic analysis in support of regulatory policy development; (2) economic research into employee benefits policy issues; (3) statistical and analytical support to EBSAs enforcement and other programs; and (4) actuarial support to EBSAs offices and programs. Public Disclosure Room 200 Constitution Ave NW Suite 200 Suite 400 In FY 2020, EBSA opened 357 new investigations from Benefit Advisors referrals. ERISA does not cover plans sponsored by the Federal government, or plans sponsored by a State or local governmental plan p.usa-alert__text {margin-bottom:0!important;} EBSA conducts most of its criminal investigations with other federal law enforcement agencies under the direction of the United States Attorney for that jurisdiction. @media (max-width: 992px){.usa-js-mobile-nav--active, .usa-mobile_nav-active {overflow: auto!important;}} Fax: 202-219-6531, Executive Assistant I was the project leader of the TVPP, which was a national project, initially overseeing more than 25 investigators at the Los Angeles Regional Office (LARO). .paragraph--type--html-table .ts-cell-content {max-width: 100%;} An official website of the United States government. Washington, DC 20210 Office of Regulations and Interpretations Assistance available in over 105 languages. If your valid complaint cannot be resolved informally, it may be referred for further review by our enforcement staff. Does the plan comply with the mental health parity provisions for annual dollar limits on mental health benefits? See 29 CFR 2590.712(b). p.usa-alert__text {margin-bottom:0!important;} www.dol.gov. The .gov means its official. Washington, DC 20210 . Suite 100 .ebsa-content .topic-wrapper form input { height: inherit; } Jeffrey Turner Your Request 3. Kimathi H. Foster, Esq. - Benefits Advisor - LinkedIn 200 Constitution Ave NW .manual-search ul.usa-list li {max-width:100%;} Washington, DC 202101-866-4-USA-DOL, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Benefits, Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA), Special Financial Assistance - Multiemployer Plans, Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program (DFVCP), State All Payer Claims Databases Advisory Committee (SAPCDAC), EBSA Restores Over $1.4 Billion to Employee Benefit Plans, Participants, and Beneficiaries. 2300 Main St Organization Chart | U.S. Department of Labor - DOL Before sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal government site. Pensions and retirement savings - Employer.gov Among other things, ERISA provides that those individuals who manage plans (and other fiduciaries) must meet certain standards of conduct. 816-285-1800 div#block-eoguidanceviewheader .dol-alerts p {padding: 0;margin: 0;} Such resolution will be informal and generally will not include litigation on your behalf or provision of legal advice. The .gov means its official. Suite N-1515 ERISA Fiduciary Advisor / EBSA Home Page. elaws - Health Benefits Advisor - DOL #block-googletagmanagerfooter .field { padding-bottom:0 !important; } #block-googletagmanagerheader .field { padding-bottom:0 !important; } 202-693-8300. .vfcp_checklist .row .col-sm-3 p label { display: contents; } .agency-blurb-container .agency_blurb.background--light { padding: 0; } 202-693-8335 EBSA Enforcement Action Recovery Efforts Climb Again The primary responsibilities of the Division of Individual Exemptions include analyzing individual exemption applications which involve a wide array of financial transactions, preparing interpretive letters and Federal Register notices, and reviewing petitions for good faith waivers of section 502(l) penalties. Mai Loi Washington DC 20210 @@media only screen and (max-width: 768px) { .vfcp_checklist .row { display:block; } } Joe Rivers It is the policy of EBSA to provide the highest quality of service to its customers. How do I file a claim for my health benefits? If the change is a material reduction in covered services or benefits, the SMM generally must be furnished not later than 60 days after the reduction is adopted. They will get you the answer or let you know where to find it. #views-exposed-form-manual-cloud-search-manual-cloud-search-results .form-actions{display:block;flex:1;} #tfa-entry-form .form-actions {justify-content:flex-start;} #node-agency-pages-layout-builder-form .form-actions {display:block;} #tfa-entry-form input {height:55px;} Send requests for copies of documents to: U.S. Department of Labor The Office of Enforcement is composed of five divisions. Employee Benefits Security Administration "EBSA" Benefits Advisors Eric Berger EBSA also has responsibility for investigating potential violations of the criminal provisions of ERISA and the provisions of Title 18 of the United States Code that relate to employee benefit plans. Ask a Question, Submit a Complaint, Report a Problem, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Benefits, Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA), Special Financial Assistance - Multiemployer Plans, Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program (DFVCP), State All Payer Claims Databases Advisory Committee (SAPCDAC). In FY 2022, EBSA participated in 765 outreach events to underserved communities, including 12 national office webcasts. The Office of Health Plan Standards and Compliance Assistance (OHPSCA) is the primary source of regulations and interpretive guidance related to group health plans under ERISA and provides education, compliance assistance, and other technical support to group health plans, their service providers, participants and beneficiaries, other EBSA offices, and other government agencies on health coverage-related matters. In FY 2022, EBSA received 1,374 applications through the VFCP. A Compliance Guide for Retirement Plan Administrators The number of retirement plan compliance audits conducted by the Department of Labor and the IRS has increased in recent years. The webinar runs about 45 minutes to an hour and is limited to 200 participants. 90 7th St Can the Department of Labor assist me with my pension, 401(k), profit sharing, or other retirement issue, if my benefit is lost, stolen, or being denied by my plan? As the head of PBSD, he was responsible for all of the Department's legal work under ERISA. The Office of the Chief Accountant is comprised of two divisions: the Division of Accounting Services and the Division of Reporting and Compliance. 200 Constitution Ave NW or by telephone at (212 . 200 Constitution Ave NW 202-693-8420 [CDATA[/* >