The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that its Employee Benefits Security Administration joined the IRS and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. in releasing informational copies of the 2024 Form 5500, Form 5500-SF, IRS Form 5500-EZ, IRS Form 5558 and related instructions online. 

CHICAGO – A federal court has approved a plan to make a final distribution of $12 million in assets to health plan participants and medical providers harmed by a multiple employer welfare arrangement, known as a MEWA. This distribution arises from a litigation brought by the U.S. Department of Labor after an investigation found mismanagement by the former fiduciaries of AEU Holdings LLC Employee Benefit Plan caused about $83 million in health claims to be wrongly billed to participants. 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration today issued a notice requesting information from retirement plan administrators that will allow it to begin populating the Retirement Savings Lost and Found database, an online search tool to help America’s workers locate lost retirement savings they earned.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has issued guidance and provided relief for participants and beneficiaries and employee benefit plans affected by Hurricane Helene and by Hurricane Milton.

Date of action:           November 5, 2024

Type of action:          Complaint filing

Defendants:               Suffolk Administrative Services LLC, San Juan, Puerto Rico

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that its Employee Benefits Security Administration has issued a report illustrating how the American Rescue Plan has protected the financially distressed pension plans of more than 1.2 million U.S. workers, retirees and their families, ensuring they receive the retirement benefits they earned. 

WASHINGTON – The Department of Labor will hold its next meeting of the 2024 Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, also known as the ERISA Advisory Council, on Oct. 22. Open to the public, the online meeting is also accessible via teleconference.

Date of action:                       Sept. 25, 2024

Type of action:                      

Civil confinement of Bryan Hill, owner of defunct Bicallis LLC, arising from civil contempt

Date of action:           Sept. 22, 2024

Type of action:          Complaint

Court:                         

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the launch of a webpage that marks the 50th anniversary of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act and reflects on the landmark law’s impact on the retirement security of America’s workers. 

PORTLAND, OR – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon against Dr. Robert B. Pamplin Jr. and R.B. Pamplin Corporation for jeopardizing millions of dollars in retirement funds for thousands of employees because of the unlawful acquisition of company-owned real estate by the R.B. Pamplin Corporation and Subsidiaries Pension Plan.

Date of Action:          Sept.

WASHINGTON – As part of the Biden-Harris administration’s effort to ensure more than 150 million people with private health coverage have greater access to mental health and substance use disorder care, the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Treasury took significant action today by issuing final rules to clarify and strengthen protections to expand equitable access to these benefits as compared to medical and surgical benefits and reduce barriers to accessing these services. 

WASHINGTON – The Department of Labor will hold its next meeting of the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, also known as the ERISA Advisory Council, Sept. 10-12 at the department’s headquarters in Washington.

The meeting is open to the public and accessible online and via teleconference.

WASHINGTON – In its continuing effort to protect U.S. workers’ retirement and health benefits, the U.S. Department of Labor today updated current cybersecurity guidance confirming that it applies to all types of plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, including health and welfare plans, and all employee retirement benefit plans.

WASHINGTON – As the nation begins Labor Rights Week, the U.S. Department of Labor and the Republic of Colombia today announced the South American country has joined the Consular Partnership Program to raise awareness among Colombians working in the U.S. about regulations protecting them in America’s workplaces. 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Labor officials and representatives from the Mexican Embassy and other diplomatic missions joined today to mark Labor Rights Week 2024 with an event promoting migrant workers’ rights and how the department is safeguarding these rights. 

Date of Action:          July 19, 2024                                                                                                                                          

WASHINGTON – The Department of Labor today announced its Employee Benefits Security Administration has launched an online system to help qualified termination administrators more efficiently submit information required by the department’s Abandoned Plan Program.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced its Employee Benefits Security Administration is soliciting nominations to fill five, three-year vacancies on the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, known as the ERISA Advisory Council. The deadline to submit nominations is Aug. 26, 2024.