November 25, 2024

US Department of Labor, IRS, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. release information for annual benefits plan report/return filings

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. 

November 18, 2024

US Department of Labor announces start of information collection to build ‘lost’ retirement savings online search tool

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.

November 18, 2024

Federal court approves $12M plan to distribute assets to providers, participants harmed by underfunded health plan arrangement in 36 states

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. 

November 7, 2024

US Department of Labor announces guidance, relief for employee benefit plans, participants, beneficiaries affected by hurricanes Helene, Milton

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.

November 6, 2024

US Department of Labor sues Puerto Rico-based service providers, executives to stop excessive fees, self-dealing; recover health plans’ funds

Date of action:           November 5, 2024

Type of action:          Complaint filing

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

November 1, 2024

US Department of Labor reports distressed pension assistance program has protected benefits for more than 1.2M workers, retirees, families

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. 

October 18, 2024

Department of Labor to hold ERISA Advisory Council meeting Oct. 22

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.

September 26, 2024

Department of Labor sues principal of defunct Pennsylvania modular building manufacturer to remove company’s health plan fiduciary, restore losses

Date of action:           Sept. 22, 2024

Type of action:          Complaint

Court:                         

September 26, 2024

Court issues warrant for defunct Baltimore company’s owner’s arrest after repeated failure to restore $153K to employee 401(k) plan

Date of action:                       Sept. 25, 2024

Type of action:                      

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

September 16, 2024

US Department of Labor marks 50th anniversary of landmark legislation protecting workers’ health, retirement plans with new webpage

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. 

September 13, 2024

US Department of Labor sues R.B. Pamplin Corporation and owner to recover millions in retirement funds for pension plan participants

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.

September 9, 2024

Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Treasury issue final rules strengthening access to mental health, substance use disorder benefits

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. 

September 6, 2024

US Department of Labor updates cybersecurity guidance for plan sponsors, fiduciaries, recordkeepers, plan participants to protect info, assets

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.

September 6, 2024

Department of Labor to hold ERISA Advisory Council meeting Sept. 10-12

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.

August 26, 2024

US Department of Labor, Colombia establish partnership to protect Colombian citizens’ labor rights while working in US

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. 

August 23, 2024

Department of Labor, Mexican Embassy kick off Labor Rights Week 2024, commemorate Consular Partnership Program’s 20th anniversary

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. 

July 24, 2024

Court orders Minnesota IT company to restore $29K in employee retirement plan contributions, bars employer from operating plan

Date of Action         July 19, 2024                                                                                                                                          

July 19, 2024

US Department of Labor launches online filing system for termination administrators to submit information on abandoned employee benefits plans

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.

July 16, 2024

US Department of Labor seeks nominations for 2025 ERISA Advisory Council

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.