Check Your Plan Documents: Review your Summary Plan Description (SPD) or other documents. ERISA plans must provide an SPD that clearly states they are an ERISA plan. Look at Employer Contributions: If your employer contributes to the plan or matches your contributions, it's likely an ERISA plan.
Qualified plans include 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, profit-sharing plans, and Keogh (HR-10) plans. Nonqualified plans include deferred-compensation plans, executive bonus plans, and split-dollar life insurance plans.
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) covers two types of retirement plans: defined benefit plans and defined contribution plans.
ERISA stands for Employee Retirement Income Security Act, which is a federal law that sets minimum standards for retirement plans in the private sector. Non-ERISA plans, on the other hand, are not governed by ERISA and are not subject to its regulations.
In general, retirement plans that are covered by ERISA are protected from creditors—and their lawsuits. A 401(k) is an ERISA-qualified plan, so it is likely protected if you get sued. There may be a few exceptions, such as charges brought by the federal government or if you allegedly wronged the plan.
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.
Check Your Plan Documents: Review your Summary Plan Description (SPD) or other documents. ERISA plans must provide an SPD that clearly states they are an ERISA plan. Look at Employer Contributions: If your employer contributes to the plan or matches your contributions, it's likely an ERISA plan.
All 403(b) plans are subject to Title I of ERISA unless an exemption applies.
Plans that fall under ERISA include defined benefits and defined contributions plans, 401 plans(k), 413b plans, EPSOPs, or profit-sharing plans. ERISA also covers private health plans such as health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).
Anyone who works for a private-sector organization which sponsors retirement benefits such as pension plan or a 401(k) plan (or 403(b) for non-profits) receives an ERISA-governed benefit that becomes vested; i.e., non-forfeitable so long as the employee works for the employer for a sufficient number of years.