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The Employee Benefits Security
Administration published this manual solely for the internal
administrative use of its employees. This manual does not
restrict or limit in any way the Employee Benefits Security
Administration's discretion in carrying out responsibilities
imposed on the Secretary of Labor by the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act. Nothing in this manual is intended to be
an interpretation of law or regulation or to serve as guidance
for persons outside the Department of Labor. Nor does this
manual confer on any person, including one who is the subject
of an Employee Benefits Security Administration investigation
or enforcement action, a right to rely on any policy or
procedure stated herein, or otherwise create any other
substantive or procedural rights.
Employee Benefits Security Administration is an agency within the Department of
Labor that administers and enforces the provisions of Title I
of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Act which
established fiduciary and other standards for employee benefit
plans sponsored by private-sector employers. Employee Benefits Security Administration
is directed
by an Assistant Secretary who is appointed by the President
and who reports directly to the Secretary of Labor. Employee Benefits Security Administration
headquarters are located in Washington, D.C. and its
enforcement activities are conducted primarily in Employee Benefits Security Administration
field
offices located in 15 cities throughout the United States.
There are over 400 investigators/auditors working out of
the field offices, all of whom are highly skilled
professionals. Many are lawyers or Certified Public
Accountants and others have
advanced degrees in business and finance. The Office of
Enforcement in EBSA's national office is responsible for
operational review and oversight, enforcement policy
direction, program coordination, and technical assistance.
Employee Benefits Security Administration shares responsibility with the
Internal Revenue Service and the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation for the administration and enforcement of the
provisions of ERISA. Under ERISA, the Secretary of Labor is responsible for protecting
the rights and financial security of more that 150 million
employee benefit plan participants and beneficiaries and for
assuring the integrity and effective management of the private
pension and welfare benefit system. Employee Benefits Security Administration
has enforcement
authority over employee benefit plans covering workers in such
diverse industries as communications, retailing, shipping,
insurance, real estate and financial services. Employee
benefit plans invest in a variety of investment vehicles,
including securities, real estate, and debt instruments.
Individuals and companies who provide services to employee
benefit plans, such as investment advisors, trust departments,
insurance companies, consultants and others, also come within
the jurisdiction of Employee Benefits Security Administration's enforcement program.
In carrying out its enforcement
responsibilities, Employee Benefits Security Administration conducts a wide range of activities,
including civil and criminal investigations, to determine
whether the provisions of ERISA and the sections of Title
18, as they relate to employee benefit plans, have been
violated.
- COBRA – Consolidated Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act
- Department - Department of Labor
- DOL - Department of Labor
- DES - Division of Enforcement Support
- DFO - Division of Field Operations
- DO - District Office
- DOJ - Department of Justice
- DRC - Division of Reporting Compliance
- DS – District Supervisor
- DTAI - Division of Technical Assistance
and Inquiries
- EBSA – Employee Benefits Security
Administration
- ERISA - Employee Retirement Income
Security Act
- FHLBB - Federal Home Loan Bank Board
- FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation
- FOIA - Freedom of Information Act
- HHS – Health and Human Services,
Department of
- HIPAA – Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act
- HMO – Health Maintenance Organization
- IRC - Internal Revenue Code
- Code - Internal Revenue Code
- IRS - Internal Revenue Service
- MHPA – Mental Health Parity Act
- MOU – Memorandum of Understanding
- NO – National Office
- OCA - Office of the Chief Accountant
- OE - Office of Enforcement
- OED - Office of Exemption Determinations
- OPM - Office of Personnel Management
- OHPSCA – Office of Health Plan
Standards and Compliance Assistance, EBSA
- OPA – Office of Participant Assistance,
EBSA
- OPM – Office of Personnel Management
- OPPEM - Office of Program Planning,
Evaluation and Management
- OPS - Office of Program Services
- OTS - Office of Thrift Supervision
- PA – Plan Administrator
- PBGC - Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation
- PBSD – Plan Benefits Security Division,
SOL
- PHS – Public Health Service
- PRA – Paperwork Reduction Act
- PWBA – Pension and Welfare Benefits
Administration
- RD - Regional Director
- RFPA - Right to Financial Privacy Act
- RI - Report of Interview
- RO - Regional Office
- ROI - Report of Investigation
- RSOL - Regional Office of the Solicitor
- SBREFA – Small Business Regulatory
Enforcement Fairness Act
- SEC – Securities and Exchange
Commission
- Secretary - Secretary of Labor
- SOL - Office of the Solicitor
- SPD – Summary Plan Description
- SSN – Social Security Number
- TE/GE – Tax Exempt and Government
Entities, IRS
- USAO - U.S. Attorney's Office
- VFCP – Voluntary Fiduciary Correction
Program
- WHCRA – Women’s Health and Cancer
Rights Act
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