|
Summary Plan Description - An OverviewAlso see this article, Your Summary Plan Description is a Treasure Trove of Information. ERISA requires a Summary Plan Description (SPD) be distributed to each plan participant and to each beneficiary receiving benefits under the plan as follows: For existing plans, a new participant must receive a copy of the SPD within 90 days after becoming a participant, and a beneficiary must receive a copy within 90 days after first receiving benefits. For newly created plans, an SPD must be distributed to participants and beneficiaries within 120 days after the plan is first instituted. Additionally, a plan sponsor must provide a SPD within 30 days of it being requested by a plan participant. Substantial fines can be levied against a plan sponsor for failing to meet these standards. When a plan is significantly modified, participants and beneficiaries must be provided with a revised SPD that reflects the changes. The plan sponsor, when distributing the SPD, must take "measures reasonably calculated to ensure actual receipt of the material by plan participants and beneficiaries." For example, mailing them to each participant or beneficiary by first class mail is acceptable, but simply posting a copy in the break room or other area frequented by participants is not acceptable. The following is, in part, the U.S. Department's of Labors discussion of the SPD requirements. -------------------------------- Section 102 of the Act specifies information that must be included in the summary plan description. The summary plan description must accurately reflect the contents of the plans as of the date not earlier than 120 days prior to the date such summary plan description is disclosed. The following information shall be included in the summary plan description of both employee welfare benefit plans and employee pension benefit plans, except as stated otherwise in paragraphs (j) through (n): (a) The name of the plan, and, if different, the name by which the plan is commonly known by its participants and beneficiaries; (b) The name and address of -- (1) In the case of a single employer plan, the employer whose employees are covered by the plan, (2) In the case of a plan maintained by an employee organization for its members, the employee organization that maintains the plan, (3) In the case of a collectively-bargained plan established or maintained by one or more employers and one or more employee organizations, the association, committee, joint board of trustees, parent or most significantly employer of a group of employers all of which contribute to the same plan, or other similar representative of the parties who established or maintain the plan, as well as (i) A statement that a complete list of the employers and employee organizations sponsoring the plan may be obtained by participants and beneficiaries upon written request to the plan administrator, and is available for examination by participants and beneficiaries, as required by §§ 2520.104b-1 and 2520.104b-30; or (ii) A statement that participants and beneficiaries may receive from the plan administrator, upon written request, information as to whether a particular employer or employee organization is a sponsor of the plan and, if the employer or employee organization is a plan sponsor, the sponsor's address. (4) In the case of a plan established or maintained by two or more employers, the association, committee, joint board of trustees, parent or most significant employer of a group of employers all of which contribute to the same plan, or other similar representative of the parties who established or maintain the plan, as well as (i) A statement that a complete list of the employers sponsoring the plan may be obtained by participants and beneficiaries upon written request to the plan administrator, and is available for examination by participants and beneficiaries, as required by §§ 2520.104b-1 and 2520.104b-30, or, (ii) A statement that participants and beneficiaries may receive from the plan administrator, upon written request, information as to whether a particular employer is a sponsor of the plan and, if the employer is a plan sponsor, the sponsor's address. (c) The employer identification number (EIN) assigned by the Internal Revenue Service to the plan sponsor and the plan number assigned by the plan sponsor. (For further detailed explanation, see the instructions to the plan description Form EBS-1 and "Identification Numbers Under ERISA" (Publ. 1004), published jointly by DOL, IRS, and PBGC); (d) The type of pension or welfare plan, e.g. pension plans -- defined benefit, defined contribution, 401k, cash balance, money purchase, profit sharing, ERISA section 404(c) plan, etc., and for welfare plans -- group health plans, disability, pre-paid legal services, etc. (e) The type of administration of the plan, e.g., contract administration, insurer administration, etc.; (f) The name, business address and business telephone number of the plan administrator as that term is defined by section 3(16) of the Act; (g) The name of the person designated as agent for service of legal process, and the address at which process may be served on such person, and in addition, a statement that service of legal process may be made upon a plan trustee or the plan administrator; (h) The name, title and address of the principal place of business of each trustee of the plan; (i) If a plan is maintained pursuant to one or more collective bargaining agreements, a statement that the plan is so maintained, and that a copy of any such agreement may be obtained by participants and beneficiaries upon written request to the plan administrator, and is available for examination by participants and beneficiaries, as required by §§ 2520.104b-1 and 2520.104b-30. For the purpose of this paragraph, a plan is maintained pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement if such agreement controls any duties, rights or benefits under the plan, even though such agreement has been superseded in part for other purposes; (j) The plan's requirements respecting eligibility for participation and for benefits. The summary plan description shall describe the plan's provisions relating to eligibility to participate in the plan and the information identified in paragraphs (j)(1), (2) and (3) of this section, as appropriate. See the complete requirements here: www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2010-title29-vol9/xml/CFR-2010-title29-vol9-sec2520-102-3.xml -------------------------------- Additional resources 401k Summary Plan Description: Basics, Requirements, and Compliance -- Abstract: The Summary Plan Description is one of the important 401k plan documents that provides plan participants with the most important details of their benefit plan, like eligibility requirements or participation dates, benefit calculations, plan management instructions, and general member responsibilities. That's the basic definition, but there's a lot more that you need to know about the SPD for successful benefits administration. This is for educational purposes only. The information provided here is intended to help you understand the general issue and does not constitute any tax, investment or legal advice. Consult your financial, tax or legal advisor regarding your own unique situation and your company's benefits representative for rules specific to your plan. |
|
About
| Glossary
| Privacy Policy
| Terms of Use
| Contact Us
|
