Rights

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) guarantees you certain rights and protection. Please keep in mind that the university itself has established claims review and appeals procedures that can generally respond to your needs quickly and effectively.

Under the law, you are guaranteed the following:

• Copies of the official plan instruments and other plan documents, such as annual reports and plan descriptions filed with the U.S. Department of Labor, are available in the Human Resources Office.
• The right to receive a summary of the plan’s annual financial report.
• If you do not receive any of the materials to which the law entitles you within 30 days of your request, you may file suit in a federal court, unless the materials were not sent because of matters beyond the control of the administrator. The court may require the administrator to pay you a penalty of up to $100 for each day's delay beyond 30 days until you receive the materials.
• The right to obtain a statement reporting the amount of funds accumulated to provide benefits.
• The assurance that the individuals responsible for the operation of these plans act solely in the interest of the plan participants and exercise prudence in the performance of their duties.
• The assurance that you may not be discharged or discriminated against in order to prevent you from obtaining a benefit or exercising your rights under ERISA.
• The right to have your claim reviewed and reconsidered if your claim for a benefit is denied in whole or in part.
• The right to file suit in a federal or state court if your claim is ignored or if you are improperly denied a benefit in full or in part. If you are discriminated against for asserting your rights, you may seek assistance from the Department of Labor or you may file suit in a federal court. If you are successful in a court action, the court may require the other party to pay your legal cost, including attorney's fees. If you lose, the court may require you to pay these costs and fees.
• The right to contact the U.S. Department of Labor if you have any questions about this statement or your rights under ERISA or problems with these plans which are not answered or settled by the administrator. If you have any questions about this statement or about your rights under ERISA, please contact the nearest office of the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, U. S. Department of Labor, listed in your telephone directory or the Division of Technical Assistance and Inquiries, Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 299 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington DC 20210.