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OPA News Release: [02/11/2002] Contact Name: Sue Hensley

Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announces New Toll Free Number
Nationwide Assistance to Answer Retirement and Health Inquiries of Workers, Employers

WASHINGTON--Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced this week the activation of a new Toll Free Participant and Compliance Assistance Number, 1-866-275-7922, to make it easier for workers and employers to get help with questions regarding their retirement and health benefit plans.

“Our goal is to protect the retirement and health benefits of all hard-working Americans,” Chao stated. “Assisting workers and employers by answering their questions about their benefit plans and providing information about the federal benefits law is vital to building confidence in America’s private benefit system.”

The toll free number is equipped to accommodate English, Spanish and Mandarin speaking individuals.

Callers will be automatically linked to the Department’s Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration (PWBA) Regional Office servicing the geographic area from which they are calling. Benefits Advisors will be available to respond to their questions, assist workers in understanding their rights or obtaining a benefit, and assist employers in understanding and meeting their obligations under the law.

Callers may also request PWBA’s publications through the participant and compliance assistance number. Some of the publications available free of charge include:

Pension and Health Care Coverage – Questions and Answers for Dislocated Workers

Protect Your Pension

What You Should Know About Your Pension Rights,

Health Benefits Under COBRA, Your Employer’s Bankruptcy – How Will It Affect Your Employee Benefits?

Job Loss – Important Information Workers Need to Know to Protect their Health Coverage

A number of PWBA’s publications are also available in Spanish. The publications are accessible on the Department’s website at www.dol.gov/dol/pwba .

Workers and employers may also submit their questions or requests for assistance electronically to the PWBA through the Department’s website at www.askpwba.dol.gov.

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