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Employee Benefits Security Administration
EBSA is also responsible for assuring compliance with the fiduciary responsibility provisions of the Thrift Savings Plan under the Federal Employees' Retirement System Act of 1986 (FERSA).
The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is committed to educating and assisting the 149 million workers, retirees and their families covered by approximately 685,000 private retirement plans, 2.2 million health plans, and similar numbers of other welfare benefit plans holding approximately $9.3 trillion in assets; as well as plan sponsors and members of the employee benefits community.
EBSA balances proactive enforcement with compliance assistance and works diligently to provide quality assistance to plan participants and beneficiaries.
It is the policy of EBSA to provide the highest quality of service to its customers.
The mission of the Employee Benefits Security Administration is to assure the security of the retirement, health and other workplace related benefits of America's workers and their families.
We will accomplish this mission by developing effective regulations; assisting and educating workers, plan sponsors, fiduciaries and service providers; and vigorously enforcing the law.
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.
Persons desiring assistance should contact the nearest Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration field office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2016: In FY 2016, EBSA utilized an aggressive outreach, education, and participant assistance program to inform the public of their rights and benefits as well as to educate the regulated community regarding their responsibilities and obligations under the law. EBSA programs utilized a number of different approaches to ensuring employee benefits were protected, including national/regional enforcement priorities and projects, voluntary compliance programs, civil/criminal litigation, and research-based analysis to achieve program results. In addition, the economic research program continued to study economic issues affecting all employee benefits programs. EBSA?s approach to promoting benefits security in FY 2016 was developed and implemented in response to public concerns, the Agency?s experience with civil and criminal investigations, participant inquiries, research, and trends and vulnerabilities identified in the private sector. Fiscal Year 2017: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2018: No Current Data Available
Uses and Use Restrictions
EBSA's compliance assistance program provides information to assist plan participants including, beneficiaries, sponsors, service providers and other interested parties in understanding and complying with the requirements of ERISA as it applies to the administration of employee retirement, health and other welfare benefit plans.
This enables participants to better understand and exercise their rights under the law and, when possible, to recover any benefits to which they may be entitled.
This also allows plan administrators and practitioners the opportunity to better understand and comply with the law.
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 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles.
Aplication 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 Procedures
This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. 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
Not Applicable.
Authorization
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, Public Law 93-406.
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
Not Applicable.
Audits
Not Applicable.
Records
Not applicable.
Financial Information
Account Identification
16-1700-0-1-601.
Obigations
(Salaries) FY 16 $181,000; FY 17 est $183,000; and FY 18 est $183,296 - EBSA received an additional $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2017 from the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) State Unemployment Insurance and Employment Service Operations (SUIESO) Unemployment Insurance (UI) State Administration appropriation to allow EBSA to conduct and support the major case initiative, provide support to the Office of the Solicitor in litigation of extraordinary case work, and enhance oversight of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Data not 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).
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
Benefits Advisors Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N5623, Washington, District of Columbia 20210 Phone: 1-866-444-3272
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Not Applicable.
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