U.S. Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) shared the following information regarding the tools available to Arizonans experiencing job loss, a reduction in hours, or furlough through the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA). EBSA assists individuals with their employment-based health, retirement, and other employee benefit plans.
During this period of nationwide challenge, providing information to American workers and employers is a top priority for EBSA. EBSA’s benefits advisors can assist Arizonans with any questions they may have at 1-866- 444-3272 or https://askebsa.dol.gov.
Arizonans may have questions about how to maintain health coverage or may wonder what happens to their retirement benefits after a termination of employment. EBSA’s publications address many common questions and provide contact information for benefits advisors, who can answer questions regarding specific scenarios faced by terminated workers. EBSA also participates in Rapid Response sessions coordinated by the states to educate workers about options to protect their health and retirement benefits when facing job loss. Separately, they also provide timely outreach for both workers and employers. EBSA provides information through:
Presentations (including webinars and teleconferences) to employers,
Training for state and local government staff to provide information about employee benefits,
Publications sent to State Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act officials and America Job Center staff, and
Webcasts, posters, and social media.
Additionally, many publications and videos are available on the EBSA Website. Specific items that may be helpful include:
Protecting Health and Retirement Benefits after Job Loss
Retirement and Health Care Coverage… Questions and Answers for Dislocated Workers
Job Loss – Important Information Workers Need To Know To Protect Their Health Coverage and Retirement Benefits
Background:
EBSA protects the integrity of private-sector employee benefit plans. It oversees the benefits of nearly 154 million workers, retirees and their families covered by approximately 710,000 private retirement plans, 2.4 million health plans, and similar numbers of other welfare benefit plans holding approximately $11.1 trillion in assets.
In FY 2019, EBSA benefits advisors answered 166,627 inquiries and recovered $510 million in benefits for plan participants and beneficiaries.
EBSA also participated in 844 rapid response sessions for dislocated workers, gave presentations at 360 participant assistance and public awareness events, and provided 259 briefings to staff in the district offices of members of Congress.
These outreach efforts connect us to workers and others who need help obtaining and understanding their benefits.
EBSA also provides compliance assistance to employers, plan service providers, and other members of the employee benefits community. Last year, its benefits advisors conducted 325 compliance assistance activities geared towards educating employers and others about the requirements of ERISA.
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