Question

Under ERISA, if requested in writing, what information must the administrator of the pension fund supply to the participants?

Answer 1

The administrator must give the participants in writing the most essential facts that they are required to know about their retirement plans. Some of these facts must be provided to participants regularly and automatically by the plan administrator. Others are available upon request, free-of-charge, or for copying fees. The request should be made in writing.

Following facts should be covered in the retirement plan

• Benefits and eligibility;
• Funding of benefits;
• Treatment of insurance refunds and rebates;
• Procedures for claims and appeals;
• Designation of named fiduciary;
• Plan amendment and termination procedures;
• Required provisions for group health plans
• Other legal provisions applicable to certain plans (such as subrogation and reimbursement and coordination of benefits);
• Procedures for allocating and delegating plan responsibilities (for example, where certain administrative tasks will be performed by a third party administrator, or TPA).