The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is an agency of the United States Department of Labor

United States Department of Labor

The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The...

 responsible for administering, regulating and enforcing the provisions of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act

Employee Retirement Income Security Act

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 is an American federal statute that establishes minimum standards for pension plans in private industry and provides for extensive rules on the federal income tax effects of transactions associated with employee benefit plans...

 of 1974 (ERISA). At the time of its name change in February 2003, EBSA was known as the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration (PWBA). Prior to January 1986, PWBA was known as the Pension and Welfare Benefits Program.

EBSA is led by the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employee Benefits, a Sub-Cabinet level position requiring nomination by the President of the United States

President of the United States

The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....

 and confirmation by the United States Senate

United States Senate

The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...

. The current Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employee Benefits and head of the Employee Benefits Security Administration is the Hon. Phyllis Borzi

Phyllis Borzi

Phyllis C. Borzi is the Obama administration's Assistant Secretary for Employee Benefits Security of the United States Department of Labor, the official in charge of the Employee Benefits Security Administration.-Experience:...

. Past Assistant Secretaries include the Hon. Bradford P. Campbell

Bradford P. Campbell

Bradford P. Campbell was the Assistant Secretary for Employee Benefits Security of the United States Department of Labor , the official in charge of the Employee Benefits Security Administration . Mr. Campbell was nominated by President George W. Bush as Assistant Secretary on May 3, 2007, and was...

, the Hon. Ann L. Combs and the Hon. Olena Berg-Lacy.

EBSA is organized into nine program offices:

• Exemption Determination (OED) - Processes requests for individual and class exemptions from ERISA’s prohibited transaction provisions.
• Enforcement (OE) - Conducts EBSA's national and field enforcement program.
• Policy and Research (OPR) - Provides policy analysis, economic research, and tracking of all benefits policy-related developments and activities.
• Health Plan Standards and Compliance Assistance (OHPSCA) - Provides regulations and interpretive guidance related to health plans and provides education, technical assistance and other support to health plans, other government agencies with related responsibilities, policy makers and Employee Benefits Security Administration program offices on health care matters.
• Regulations and Interpretations (ORI) - Primarily responsible for carrying out EBSA’s regulatory agenda and interpretive activities, as well as the development, analysis and implementation of pension and health care policy issues by providing technical assistance and support to the Assistant Secretary, external groups and other offices within EBSA.
• The Chief Accountant (OCA) - Responsible for annual reporting and audit requirements by employee benefit plans, and enforcement of those provisions through the imposition of civil penalties against a plan administrator whose annual report is rejected.
• Technology and Information Services (OTIS) - Provides computer office automation, information processing, and local wide area, and Internet connectivity for EBSA staff nationwide.
• Participant Assistance (OPA) - Provides participant and compliance assistance directly to the public through a staff of Benefits Advisors, located in EBSA’s field offices, who answer inquiries and complaints received by phone, mail, electronically or in person. OPA coordinates the development of the Agency’s Strategic Plan for Outreach, Education and Assistance, establishes policies and operating procedures for the program, provides oversight and support to the Regional Offices in carrying out these activities, and oversees quality reviews and customer satisfaction surveys related to the program.
• Program Planning - Provides advice and leadership in the development and implementation of EBSA's policy, strategic planning and evaluation, financial management, budgeting, human resources and administrative programs designed to assure effective management of Agency operations and resources.

EBSA also maintains 15 regional and district field offices throughout the US to conduct investigations to detect and correct violations of Title I of ERISA and related criminal laws, and answer inquiries and complaints received by phone, mail, electronically or in person.

External links

• Proposed and finalized federal regulations from the Employee Benefits Security Administration