The U. S. Department of Labor's Pension and
Welfare Benefits Administration today announced creation of the Office of
Participant Assistance and Communications to handle broad-based outreach and
assistance for the millions of workers covered by private-sector pension and
health benefit plans.
Leslie B. Kramerich, assistant secretary of labor
for PWBA, said, "We recognize the importance of helping the general public and
therefore are elevating the role of the office that deals directly with the
public. A growth in PWBA's responsibilities -- including jurisdiction over four
major health laws and new regulatory actions -- has produced a demand by
workers and their families for help in understanding these requirements.
"Each year we receive more than 150,000 inquiries
from participants and beneficiaries, showing a need for the government to help
with questions and problems relating to plan benefits," Kramerich said. "While
we have improved our assistance programs in the last five years, this new
office will afford greater visibility and continuity in the handling of public
inquiries."
The office, which supercedes the Office of Program
Services, has a distinctly new mission and structure to meet the increased
needs of workers for help in taking full advantage of benefit programs offered
to them on the job. OPAC will assist the public in understanding their rights
and benefits, assist them in obtaining benefits which are improperly denied and
carry out broad- based education and outreach programs. The public will be able
to obtain technical assistance on questions and problems at the local level
through PWBA's 10 regional offices and its headquarters in Washington, D.C.
In addition, two education and outreach programs
compliment the customer service functions through development and distribution
of up-to-date material and information for employers and workers in
understanding pension and health laws. Many of these products are available on
PWBA's website at www.dol.gov/dol/pwba.
Five years ago, the office was staffed by only 12
people working out of the Washington, D. C. office. Today, a staff of more than
100 trained professionals in 10 regional offices and PWBA's headquarters are
able to answer complex questions about pension, health and other welfare
requirements. For the first time, regional participant assistance staff will be
responsible for carrying out a comprehensive grassroots outreach program to
network with front-line constituent organizations.
The participant assistance component also will be
a critical link to other program components, particularly the enforcement
program. Using its sophisticated computerized system, inquiries can be tracked
and, where appropriate, referred to a field office for further investigation.
Thus, participants will receive coordinated program action through one contact
with PWBA.
In addition, the office handles media relations,
publications and disclosure of public documents requested by the public. The
media relations and publication functions are integral components for creation
and distribution of regulatory, enforcement, policy, and education and outreach
information.
Persons can contact PWBA by calling 202/219-8776
in Washington, D. C. or the nearest field office listed on our website.
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