Employee Benefits Security Administration
EBSA is committed to educating and assisting the 150 million Americans covered by more than 683,000 private retirement plans, 2.5 million health plans, and similar numbers of
EBSA promotes voluntary compliance and facilitates self-regulation, working diligently to provide quality assistance to plan participants and beneficiaries.
It is the policy of EBSA to provide the highest quality of service to stakeholders and the regulated community.
EBSA carries out its mission by: (1) deterring and correcting violations of ERISA; (2) helping plan officials understand and comply with the legal requirements of ERISA; (3)educating workers on their benefit rights; and, (4) developing policies that encourage the growth of employment-based benefits.
The Department of Labor fosters and promotes the welfare of job seekers, wage earners and retirees by improving their working conditions, advancing their opportunities, protecting their retirement and health benefits and generally protecting worker rights and monitoring national economic measures.
Program Accomplishments
EBSA is proactive in its efforts to enhance pension and health benefits security. In this regard, EBSA's customer service staff provides assistance to approximately 150,000 participants, employers and plan administrators each year. The nature of assistance ranges from receiving information brochures, booklets and/or regulations to individualized assistance relative to a specific problem along with information on how the law applies, sometimes resulting in a direct or indirect recovery of an appropriate benefit. As part of its technical assistance program, EBSA conducts educational outreach workshops and participates in additional outreach conferences sponsored by professional organizations. Additionally, through its enforcement program, EBSA actions resulted in monetary recoveries to employee benefit plans of approximately $1.4 billion in fiscal year 2007.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Plan professionals, participants and beneficiaries of employee pension, health care and welfare benefit plans obtain information about the legal requirements for plan administration, plan provisions, financial operations or how to obtain a benefit.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Plan administrators, trustees, participants, beneficiaries of employee benefit plans, or others involved in plan administration may obtain assistance in complying with the Act.
Interested persons may obtain certain plan documents which are required to be filed by plan administrators.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Plan officials, trustees, participants, beneficiaries of employee benefit plans, or others involved in plan administration.
Credentials/Documentation
None.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
None.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
Contact the nearest field office of the Employee Benefits Security Administration listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog, EBSA's web site at www.dol.gov/ebsa or EBSA's hotline at (1 866) 444-EBSA (3272). (Participants and beneficiaries should first contact their plan administrator for plan information.)
Award Procedures
Not applicable.
Deadlines
None.
Authorization
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, Public Law 93-406, 29 U.S.C. 1001 note.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Not applicable.
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
Not applicable.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Not applicable.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Not applicable.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Not applicable.
Audits
Not applicable.
Records
Not applicable.
Financial Information
Account Identification
16-1700-0-1-601.
Obigations
(Salaries and Expenses) FY 07 $134,509; FY 08 $143,000; and FY 09 est not reported.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Not applicable.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
Copies of the final regulations, proposed regulations, and other directives are available from the national office or on EBSA's website at www.dol.gov/ebsa. Certain audio-visual material also are available for hearing-impaired audiences. EBSA publishes a variety of free publications directed to employers and participants which can be obtained from its website and its publication hotline at (1 866) 444-EBSA (3272).
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Persons desiring assistance should contact the nearest Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration field office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Headquarters Office
Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N5623, Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 693-8666. Contact Gloria Della.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Not applicable.
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