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Summary

The other sections of this article define the following ERISA terms:

What Is An Employee Welfare Plan?

Employee Welfare Plans covered by ERISA are any plan, program, or fund that an employer, union, guild, or multi-employer groups maintains for the benefit of its workers or members, to provide:

  • Medical, surgical, or hospital care.
  • Benefits for sickness, accident, disability, or death.
  • Unemployment benefits.
  • Vacation benefits.
  • Apprenticeship and training programs.
  • Day care centers.
  • Scholarship funds.
  • Prepaid legal services.
  • Holiday or severance pay.
  • Retirement plans.

ERISA does not cover plans that only relate to:

  • Recreational, dining, first aid or other facilities - other than day care centers for use by employees or members.
  • Holiday gifts.
  • Sales to employees of articles or commodities of the kind which the employer offers for sale in the regular course of business.

The Plan Administrator

The Plan Administrator is the person or company that administers the Employee Welfare Plan.

The Plan Administrator is usually the employer. Some employers and unions contract with an independent Benefit Plan Administrator to perform the duties of the Plan Administrator.

ERISA imposes many requirements on the Plan Administrator. For example, the Plan Administrator has to make a lot of information available to employees who are covered by an Employee Benefit Plan.

The Summary Plan Description

The Summary Plan Description is the literature for employees that provides a detailed description of the provisions of the benefit Plan.

The Description is usually a booklet. It can also be a certificate, loose pages or a posting on a web site.

For more information about a Summary Plan Description, click here. For information about how to request a Summary Plan Description, click here.