The Employee Benefits Security Administration is an agency within the Department of Labor that administers and enforces the provisions of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). ERISA established fiduciary and other standards for employee benefit plans sponsored by private-sector employers.
By bringing these lawsuits, employees are enforcing their rights under the benefit plans. They are also making sure that plan administrators and others are being prudent and honest in how they administer plans. ERISA allows plan participants and beneficiaries to get into federal court to bring these claims.
Contact your regional EBSA office to file a complaint or an appeal after exhausting your insurance appeals process. You can also find ERISA information through the U.S. Department of Labor online at .dol/ebsa.
Filing an ERISA Claim: Step-by-Step Guide Step 1: Review Your Plan. The first step in filing an ERISA claim is to review your disability insurance policy thoroughly. Step 2: Gather Evidence. Step 3: File Your Claim. Step 4: Wait for a Decision. Step 5: Appeal if Necessary.
Filing an ERISA Claim: Step-by-Step Guide Step 1: Start with Solid Documentation. Step 2: Filing Your Claim and Submission Deadlines. Step 3: Appeals Process If Your Claim Is Denied. Step 4: Filing an ERISA Complaint in Federal Court.
Arrangements that are subject to ERISA must meet these reporting and disclosure requirements: Form 5500 annual reports and summary annual reports, • A written plan document and summary plan description (SPD), and • Participant notices.
Filing an ERISA Claim: Step-by-Step Guide Step 1: Review Your Plan. The first step in filing an ERISA claim is to review your disability insurance policy thoroughly. Step 2: Gather Evidence. Step 3: File Your Claim. Step 4: Wait for a Decision. Step 5: Appeal if Necessary.
ERISA governs the claim only if ERISA covers the plan involved in the claim. ERISA applies to most employee benefit plans, including employee health and retirement plans. ERISA does not cover certain plans, such as government plans and church plans.
Types of ERISA Claims Consider the following examples, which is not exhaustive: An employee who has a long-term disability plan that provides benefits if she is totally disabled. After suffering a serious fall at work, the employee struggles with a traumatic brain injury and other impairments.
An ERISA lawsuit offers individuals the opportunity to recover various types of damages, including medical bills, lost wages, and pension benefits.