Locating Missing and Lost Participants

This document is about an ERISA Advisory Council report examining the issues that plan sponsors, fiduciaries, service providers, and other parties face in handling plan benefits payable to participants and beneficiaries who cannot be found or are non-responsive ("Lost Participants"). The report focuses on methods of maintaining contact with participants to prevent them from becoming lost and methods for finding participants once they are lost. The report provides recommendations to the Department of Labor on developing industry best practices, updating legal guidance, and coordinating with other government agencies to address Lost Participant issues.