Employee Retirement Income Security Act legal definition of Employee Retirement Income Security Act. Employee Retirement Income Security Act synonyms by the Free Online Law Dictionary.

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), 29 U.S.C.A. § 1001 et seq. (1974), is a federal law that sets minimum standards for most voluntarily established Pension and health plans in private industry to provide protection for individuals enrolled in these plans. ERISA regulates the financing, vesting, and administration of pension plans for workers in private business and industry. The 1974 enactment of ERISA by Congress was intended to preserve and protect the rights of employees to their pensions upon retirement by establishing statutory requirements that govern such matters.

ERISA requires retirement plans to provide participants with information including important details about plan features and funding. ERISA also describes fiduciary responsibilities for those who manage and control plan assets, requires plans to establish a grievance and appeals process for participants seeking benefits from their plans, and gives participants the right to sue for benefits and breaches of fiduciary duty. A number of amendments to ERISA expand the protections that are available to health-benefit-plan participants and beneficiaries. One important amendment, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), 29 U.S.C. §§ 1161–1168 (1994), provides some workers and their families with the right to continue their health coverage for a limited time after certain life events, such as the loss of a job. Another amendment to ERISA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), 29 U.S.C. §§ 1181–1182, provides important new protection for working Americans and their families who have preexisting medical conditions or who might otherwise suffer discrimination in health coverage based on factors related to health. Other important amendments include the Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act, the Mental Health Parity Act, and the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act. In general, ERISA does not cover group health plans established or maintained by government entities, churches, or plans that are maintained solely to comply with applicable workers compensation, unemployment, or disability laws. ERISA also does not cover plans maintained outside the United States primarily for the benefit of non-resident Aliens or unfunded excess benefit plans.

Cross-references

Employment Law.

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Employment Law Group Legal Services Health Care Law Income Tax Independent Contractor Individual Retirement Account Keogh Plan Labor Department managed care Patients' Rights pension preemption right to die Taxes vest	Petersen Practice Area: Labor and Employment Law Life, Health and Disability Law, Employee Retirement Income Security Act "ERISA" Litigation Fabian & Clendenin by Petersen, Scott M. / Utah Business Employees there allege that when top executives allegedly backdated stock options illegally and secretly, they breached their fiduciary responsibility under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Test case looms on backdating by Heffes, Ellen M. / Financial Executive The DOL's Employee Benefits Security Administration enforces the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), which sets certain minimum standards for private sector pension plans. GAO finds dol should audit pension plans by California CPA	Emperor empery emphasis emphasize emphatic emphatic assertion emphatic inquiry Emphyteosis empierce Empire empiric empirical empiricism employ employ capital employ improperly employ one’s professional skill employ one’s time employ oneself employ oneself in employ stratagem employability employable employed employee Employee Retirement Income Security Act employees’ earnings employees’ salaries employer Employer asking about past crimes, charges Employer deductions, legal issues Employer is taking money of out pay check, lowered pay rate employer of legal advice Employer paid cash, threat to sue for overpayment Employer requests psych eval Employer seeking fees back employer work stoppage Employers' Liability Acts employment Employment at Will employment discrimination employment fee Employment Law employment of capital employment of force empoison emporium empower empower to act for another empowered empowering	Employee Referral Award Program Employee Referral Program Employee Reimbursement Account Employee Related Expenses Employee Relations Employee Relations Advisory Organization Employee Relations and Health Services Center Employee Relations Commission of Victoria Employee Relations Division Employee Relations Inventory Employee Relations Officer Employee Relations/Labor Relations Employee Relationship Management Employee Relocation Council Employee Report of Accident Employee Request Employee Resource Center Employee Resource Management Employee Retaliation Employee Retention Employee Retention Program/Plan Employee Retirement & Income Security Act Employee Retirement Benefit Security Act Employee Retirement Benefits Board Employee Retirement Income Security Act Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 Employee Retirement Plan Trust Employee Retirement Savings Account Employee Retirement System Employee Retraining Initiative Employee Return to Work Employee Review Board Employee Review Panel Employee Riders Association Employee Right-to-Know Employee Rights and Employment Policy Journal Employee Rights and Responsibilities Employee Rights Center Employee Rights Quarterly Employee Rustout Employee Salary History Notes Employee Satisfaction Employee Satisfaction Index Employee Satisfaction Score employee savings plan Employee Screening Questionnaire Employee Security Clearance List Employee Selection Process Employee Self Service

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Petersen Practice Area: Labor and Employment Law Life, Health and Disability Law, Employee Retirement Income Security Act "ERISA" Litigation

Fabian & Clendenin by Petersen, Scott M. / Utah Business

Employees there allege that when top executives allegedly backdated stock options illegally and secretly, they breached their fiduciary responsibility under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

Test case looms on backdating by Heffes, Ellen M. / Financial Executive

The DOL's Employee Benefits Security Administration enforces the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), which sets certain minimum standards for private sector pension plans.

GAO finds dol should audit pension plans by California CPA