Accounts Covered by ERISA Common types of employer-sponsored retirement accounts that fall under ERISA include 401(k) plans, pensions, deferred-compensation plans, and profit-sharing plans. ERISA does not cover retirement plans set up and administered by government entities and churches, such as many 403(b) plans.
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) is a federal law that sets minimum standards for most voluntarily established retirement and health plans in private industry to provide protection for individuals in these plans.
Common ERISA violations include denying benefits improperly, breaching fiduciary duties, and interfering with employee rights under the plan.
Summary Plan Description (SPD) Plan Document. Group Policy of Insurance (if applicable) Certificate of Insurance and/or Group Booklet (if applicable)
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.
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.
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.
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.
Retirement plans and other benefits subject to ERISA ERISA also applies to employer-sponsored retirement plans. This includes defined benefit plans—which promise a monthly benefit upon retirement—and defined contribution plans—such as a 401(k). This includes the following types of retirement benefits: Pension plans.