News Release

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EBSA News Release: [10/17/2005]
Contact Name: David James or Bob Zachariasiewicz
Phone Number: (202) 693-4650 or x4676
Release Number: 05-1985-NAT

Labor Department Web Site Assists Hurricane Victims Locate Employee Benefit Plan Sponsors

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today launched a Web site providing contact information on employee benefit plan sponsors whose operations have been disrupted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Employers who sponsor benefit plans are being encouraged to update their contact information with the department if it has changed. This information will allow employees, plan participants and their families, as well as the many other support organizations assisting victims of the hurricanes, to reach plan administrators with questions and information related to their retirement and health benefits.

“Lack of contact information can result in participants not receiving retirement checks, knowing where to send premium payments for their health benefits, how to reach plan administrators for needed services or how to find general information about the status of their employment or benefits,” said Ann L. Combs, assistant secretary of labor for employee benefits security. “This site will allow participants, their families and others to reach the administrators of those plans with their questions.”

The Web site includes a searchable data base that lists pre-hurricane contact information garnered from the Form 5500 Annual Reports filed previously by all employee benefit plans located in the affected disaster areas. Plan sponsors are being asked to contact the department to verify existing information or provide updated contact information—including post-hurricane address and phone number—that will be entered into this data base for public use.

Employers/plan sponsors who wish to update or correct their contact information included on this site may do so by calling toll free 1-866-444-EBSA (3272) or by submitting a Verification of Contact Information Form found on the Web site.

Employees/plan participants who need to locate their employer/plan sponsor may search the data base at www.dol.gov/ebsa or contact one of our benefits advisors for assistance at 1-866-444-EBSA (3272). The benefits advisors can retrieve information for those who do not have access to a computer, and are available to answer questions related to benefits issues.

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