Employee Benefits Security Administration (17.150)

Program

17.150 Employee Benefits Security Administration

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Labor
Office: Employee Benefits Security Administration

Authorization

Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, Public Law 93-406.

Program Number

17.150

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

The primary mission of EBSA is to protect the pension health and other benefits of American workers and their families. EBSA is committed to educating and assisting the 150 million Americans covered by more than 679,000 private retirement plans, 2.5 million health plans, and similar numbers of other welfare benefit plans, as well as, plan sponsors and members of the employee benefits community. 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.

Types of Assistance

DISSEMINATION OF TECHNICAL INFORMATION

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

No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. 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 Procedure

Not applicable.

Deadlines

Not Applicable.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Not Applicable.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Not Applicable. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Not Applicable.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Audits

Not Applicable.

Records

Not applicable.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: 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 educationsl 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 $1.2 billion in fiscal year 2008. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

16-1700-0-1-601.

Obligations

(Salaries) FY 08 $139,304,000; FY 09 est $143,400,000; FY 10 est $156,000,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

No Data Available.

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).

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. 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

Gloria Della Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N5623, Washington, District of Columbia 20210 Phone: 202-693-8666

Web Site Address

http://www.dol.gov/ebsa.

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Not Applicable.