To ensure your ERISA-covered benefits are secure, EBSA develops effective regulations, assists and educates plans and the public, and vigorously enforces the law.
The passage of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act in 1974 launched a new era of financial security for America's workers, providing critical protections that have safeguarded their retirement, health, and other job-based benefits for 50 years.
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act
This landmark legislation protects the interests of participants and their beneficiaries in employee benefit plans. Title I of ERISA is enforced by the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA).
"It is certainly appropriate that this law be signed on Labor Day, since this Act makes a brighter future for almost all the men and women of our labor force."
-President Gerald Ford, 1974
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Protecting your benefits
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Requiring accountability
The law holds those managing your benefits to high standards, making sure they act in your best interest.
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Evolving to meet your needs
Since 1974, ERISA has been amended multiple times to address the modern workplace and adapt to changes brought by new laws.
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Get help now
Retirement and health benefit plans can be difficult to navigate. Contact our Benefits Advisors to get answers fast. Translation and relay services are available.
How EBSA advocates for you
EBSA saves lives
After 5 months of treatment to prepare for a life-saving liver transplant, a participant's health plan unexpectedly said it would not cover the procedure at the current location. Instead, she would have to travel 250 miles and restart the monthslong process. EBSA employees refused to accept this, and after they worked with the plan, the participant received expedited treatment and the transplant.
Dear Matthew at EBSA, I just wanted to send you a huge thank you for helping me sort out the 401K issue. I reaaly appreciate your help! I wouldn't have been able to get my 401K fully vested so soon without your help. Thank you so much for your guidance and quick response! And thank you so much for making sure I got what's rightfully mine! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR AWESOME SUPPORT! Best Regards, Ellen
THANK YOU - Very Much - THIS LETTER IS TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR THE ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY YOUR SENIOR BENEFITS ADVISOR RACHEL, CONCERNING MY DAUGHTER'S DISABILITY BENEFITS UNDER OUR INSURANCE PLAN. WE RECEIVED A POSITIVE RESOLUTION THANKS TO RACHEL'S HARD WORK. IT WAS A PLEASURE DEALING WITH HER ON THESE COMPLEX ISSUES.
THANK YOU EBSA We can not thank you enough for all the hard work you put into our 401K problems. We were very happy to be able to reclaim the money that was rightfully ours. We finally got our funds released! It was pleasant dealing with you, because you gave us hope that we had a chance to get our money back! Thank you for your hard work!
THANK YOU EBSA! Thank you for all your help! You'll never know how much it meant to me knowing I had someone like you on my side. This has been such a difficult year (divorce), and to receive such good news really made my day! Keep up the good work helping the underdog. It is so important!
Thank you EBSA Dear Mark at EBSA, I am so sorry it took me this long to send this letter! Thank you for everything you did for me! I never would have known I had this benefit had it not been for you! You changed my whole life! Much appreciation, Linda
THANK YOU Dear EBSA Employee, For a long time you have been helping my husband and I. You might not realize this, but this is not only about money. After you spoke with them, it has been much easier for us to work with our insurance company. We have many difficulties, and you have been very nice people who have helped us a lot! We appreciate it a lot! Enjoy your summer!
"My only hope is you can understand the drastic difference you made in my family’s life. Your work has literally saved us."
— A health plan participant helped by EBSA
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We’re all in this together – working to make ERISA’s goal a reality
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) continues to work tirelessly to develop effective regulations, assist participants, educate fiduciaries and workers, and vigorously enforce the law.
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Partnering to achieve ERISA’s mission
The Employee Benefits Security Administration’s (EBSA) mission is to implement the goal of ERISA to protect the retirement, health and other employee benefits provided by job-based plans. Over the past 50 years, as ERISA has changed, EBSA also has evolved to address the changes and new challenges.
By the numbers
over 4.1 million
retirement, health, and other welfare benefit plans that EBSA oversees
153 million
workers, retirees, and their families who are covered by those benefit plans
197,000
inquiries that were resolved by EBSA’s benefits advisors in FY 2023
over $1.4 billion
recovered for plans, participants, and beneficiaries in FY 2023
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1963
The Studebaker automobile plant in South Bend, Indiana, closes. Thousands of workers are left without their pensions, driving a movement that demands new legislation to protect America's workers.
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1974
President Gerald Ford signs ERISA into law.
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2010
President Obama signs the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law, expanding ERISA's role in protecting health benefits.
