Labor Department Creates New Outreach And Communications Office

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

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.

U.S. Department of Labor news releases are accessible on the Internet. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format upon request (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the Central Office for Assistive Services and Technology. Please specify which news release when placing your request. Call 202.693.7773 or TTY 202.693.7775.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.