Benefits Boost!

 ERISA: Over the Hill and Still Thriving

Throughout 2024, we have honored ERISA's 50th year by highlighting the major concepts of this foundational federal benefits law in our Benefits Boost! series. To round out the year, we highlight our Boosts and Gallagher's ERISA resources to help you comply.

Is your benefits subject to ERISA? Reiew our step-by-step too:  How to Determine if Your Benefits are Subject to ERISA.

Learn to apply the ERISA exemptions properly in ERISA Exemptions: A "Payroll Practice" and ERISA Exemption #2: Voluntary Plan Safe Harbor.

Participant disclosures are the core of ERISA. Verify that you satisfy the requirements in Summarizing Delivery Deadlines.

Participants have the right to request documents as well.  Stay in compliance with an often-overlooked plan obligation in The Dos and Dont's to Document Requests.

Annual reporting is required and mistakes can be costly: EBSA Searching for Missed Form 5500s.

Stay audit ready with DOL Audits: Stay Ready So You Don't Have to Get Ready and How Long Should Employers Keep their ERISA Documents?

States attempt to regulate ERISA plans, but their reach is limited: ERISA Preemption Can be a Scary Topic.

Issues arise for short ERISA plan years. Plan Ahead: Timing is Everything for a Short Plan Year.

Litigation is on the rise.  Fiduciaries can take steps to reduce risk: A New Era for ERISA Health Plan Fiduciaries.

Understand all this and more in our Back to Basic Guide: ERISA. 

Benefits Boost! is a monthly write-up that discusses various health and welfare compliance topics providing real world support, and highlighting Gallagher resources and tools.

The intent of this article is to provide general information on employee benefit issues. It should not be construed as legal advice and, as with any interpretation of law, plan sponsors should seek proper legal advice for application of these rules to their plans. 

Source(s): Gallagher, received on November 9, 2024.