SYSTEM NAME:

Technical Assistance and Inquiries System.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:

None.

SYSTEM LOCATION:

Electronic information is housed in Office of Technology and Information Services, U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210. Ancillary hard copy records such as incoming/outgoing correspondence are housed in the regional or district office that handled the inquiry.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:

Correspondents and callers requesting information and assistance; Correspondents and callers requesting information from the EBSA Public Disclosure Room.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:

Written and telephone inquiries from employee benefit plan participants, plan professionals and congressional offices regarding all aspects of pension and welfare benefit plans and records which provide the status of individuals under these plans. System also contains referrals from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and state agencies related to health care benefit plans. Medium sensitivity due to the possibility of the record containing social security numbers, personal financial data or personal medical information. Includes names, addresses and other contact information.

AUTHORITY FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:

29 U.S.C. 1134 and 1136.

PURPOSE(S):

These records are used to take action on or respond to inquiries from Members of Congress and private citizens or referrals from the HHS or state insurance agencies.

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES OF USERS AND THE PURPOSE OF SUCH USES:

 

In addition to those universal routine uses listed in the General Prefatory Statement to this document, records in this system may be disclosed to the relevant employee benefit plan administrator, third party administrator, insurance carrier or other party as necessary to facilitate a resolution to the circumstance presented by the individual seeking assistance from the agency; or to the referring component within HHS or referring state agency in order to report on the status or final disposition of the referral. Information disclosed will be provided periodically via electronic reports.

DISCLOSURE TO CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCIES:

None.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING, RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING, AND DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:

 

STORAGE:

Files are stored electronically and/or on paper.

RETRIEVABILITY:

Files are retrieved by name of individual, telephone number, email address, company, Employer Identification Number, or HHS or state agency referral number.

SAFEGUARDS:

Access by authorized personnel only. Computer security safeguards are used for electronically stored data and locked locations for paper files.

RETENTION AND DISPOSAL:

Manual records are maintained for one year after closing the file, then destroyed. Computer files are maintained for the same period as the manual records or are kept indefinitely in the database and deleted when no longer needed, whichever is later, pursuant to General Records Schedule 14 (Information Services).

SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS:

In the National office: Director, Office of Outreach, Education, and Assistance, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210. In the Regional offices: Regional Director. In the District Offices: District Supervisor.

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:

Inquiries should be mailed to the System Manager.

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:

A request for access should be mailed to the System Manager.

CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:

A petition for amendment should be mailed to the System Manager.

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:

Individuals or Members of Congress seeking technical assistance, information, or referrals from HHS or state agencies.

SYSTEMS EXEMPTED FROM CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE ACT:

Records or portions of records containing personally identifiable information for individuals other than the subject of the file shall be exempt from disclosure under the Privacy Act. Records or portions of records comprising information that is exempt from disclosure under Specific Exemption (k)(2) or Subsection (d)(5).