Employee Benefits Security Administration (17.150)
Program
17.150 Employee Benefits Security Administration
Federal Agency
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Authorization
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, Public Law 93-406, 29 U.S.C. 1001 note.
Program Number
17.150
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
The primary mission of EBSA is to protect the pension health care and other welfare benefits of American workers and their families. There are approximately 6.7 million employee benefit plans, which cover approximately 150 million people, including workers and retirees and their families. These plans control more than $4.8 trillion in assets. In administering its responsibilities under ERISA, EBSA: (1) Ensures that workers get the information they need to protect their benefit rights; (2) assists plan officials in understanding the requirements of the relevant laws in order for them to meet their legal responsibilities; (3) develops policies and regulations that encourage the growth of employment-based benefits; and (4) deters and seeks to correct violations of the relevant statutes through education, voluntary compliance, and civil and criminal enforcement actions.
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
None.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
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
None.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
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.
Program Accomplishments
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. Through its enforcement program, EBSA actions resulted in monetary recoveries to employee benefit plans of nearly $832 million in fiscal year 2002.
Financial Information
Account Identification
16-1700-0-1-601.
Obligations
(Salaries and Expenses) FY 02 $109,614,000; FY 03 est $116,283,000; and FY 04 est Not available.
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).
Related Programs
None.
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 N5656, Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 693-8666. Contact Gloria Della.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
Not applicable.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Not applicable.
