Overview

The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is responsible for administering and enforcing the fiduciary, reporting and disclosure provisions of the ERISA. OALJ's role under ERISA is limited to conducting hearings where a party appeals certain EBSA civil money penalties. EBSA's website contains an extensive collection of information concerning legal rights and responsibilities relating to employment benefits. EBSA also has a Toll Free Participant and Compliance Assistance Number, 1-866-444-3272, for questions regarding retirement and health benefit plans.

Decisions

Other Resources

Sample Answer

Sample Answer: EBSA regulations require that requests for hearings be in the form of an "answer" as defined in OALJ's Rules of Practice. This is a sample provided only for purposes of illustrating the form and format of a typical answer/request for hearing.

Appeals

Most ALJ decisions are appealable to either the Administrative Review Board or the Benefits Review Board. In ERISA cases, however, an appeal is made to the Employee Benefits Security Administration itself. The EBSA office that handles appeals of ALJ decisions is the Office of Exemption Determinations.

By USPS:
Director of the Office of Exemption Determinations
Office of Exemption Determinations
200 Constitution Ave, NW Suite 400
Washington, DC 20210

By private delivery service or courier:
Director of the Office of Exemption Determinations
Office of Exemption Determinations
122 C St., NW Suite 400
Washington, DC 20001

By email:
Chris Cosby
Office Director
Cosby.Chris@dol.gov

See Secretary's Order 1-2011, 77 Fed. Reg. 1088 (signed Dec. 21, 2011; published in Federal Register on Jan. 9, 2012) (delegation of review authority to the Assistant Secretary for Employee Benefits Security); EBSA Order No. 20-05 (Oct. 13, 2020) (redelegation of review authority to the Director of the Office of Exemption Determinations).