DOL/PWBA-4

SYSTEM NAME:

Technical Assistance and Inquiries System

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:

None.

SYSTEM LOCATIONS:

Division of Technical Assistance and Inquiries in the National office, all regional and district offices.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:

Correspondents and callers requesting information and assistance.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:

General and congressional telephone inquiries and correspondence regarding all aspects of pension and welfare benefit plans and records which provide the status of individuals under these plans.

AUTHORITY FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:

29 U.S.C. 1135.

PURPOSE(S):

These records are used to take action on or respond to inquiries from Members of Congress and private citizens.

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES OF USERS AND THE PURPOSE OF SUCH USES:

In addition to those universal routine uses listed in the General Prefatory Statement to this document, records in this system may be disclosed to the relevant employee benefit plan administrator, third party administrator, insurance carrier or other party as necessary to facilitate a resolution to the circumstance presented by the individual seeking assistance from the agency.

DISCLOSURE TO CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCIES:

None.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING, RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING, AND DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:

STORAGE:

Records are maintained in file cabinets and on computer system.

RETRIEVABILITY:

By name of individual.

SAFEGUARDS:

In the National office, manual files are maintained in file cabinets with access limited to staff of the Division of Technical Assistance and Inquiries. In the regional and district offices, manual files are maintained in file cabinets with access limited to appropriate PWBA staff. Computer system is password protected and limited to use by authorized personnel.

RETENTION AND DISPOSAL:

Manual records are maintained for one year after closing the file, then destroyed. Computer files are maintained for the same period as the manual records or deleted when no longer needed which is ever is later.

SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS:

In the national office: Director of the Office of Participant Assistance and Communications, Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210.

In the Regional offices: the Regional Director

In the District Offices: the District Supervisor

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:

Individuals wishing to inquire whether this system of records contains information about them should contact a system manager indicated above. Individuals must furnish their full names for their records to be located and identified.

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:

Same as notification procedure. Individuals requesting access must also comply with U. S. Department of Labor Privacy Act regulations on verification of identity at 29 CFR 71.2.

CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:

Same as notification procedure above except individuals desiring to contest or amend information maintained in the system should direct their written request to the System Manager listed above, and state clearly and concisely what information is being contested, the reasons for contesting it, and the proposed amendment to the information sought pursuant to 29 CFR 71.9.

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:

Individuals seeking technical assistance or information.

SYSTEMS EXEMPTED FROM CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE ACT:

None.