The plan must be a definite written program that is communicated to all employees. All plan assets must be held in trust by one or more trustees. The plan must be for the exclusive benefit of the employees and their beneficiaries.
ERISA requires plans to provide participants with plan information including important information about plan features and funding; sets minimum standards for participation, vesting, benefit accrual and funding; provides fiduciary responsibilities for those who manage and control plan assets; requires plans to ...
ERISA requires plans to provide participants with plan information including important information about plan features and funding; sets minimum standards for participation, vesting, benefit accrual and funding; provides fiduciary responsibilities for those who manage and control plan assets; requires plans to ...
However, not all retirement plans are covered by ERISA. For example, Federal, state, or local government plans and some church plans are not covered.
Members with at least twenty years of creditable service are eligible to retire at any age. A member's monthly retirement allowance is calculated using the member's age at retirement, years of creditable service, and amount of the member's high, three-year average salary.
The plan document should contain: Name of the plan administrator. Designation of any named fiduciaries other than the plan administrator under the claims procedure for deciding benefit appeals. A description of the benefits provided. The standard of review for benefit decisions.
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.
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.