Requirements of ERISA

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act, better known as ERISA, is a federal law that affects certain administrative aspects of employee benefit and retirement plans.

Who is covered by ERISA? If you offer an employee welfare benefit plan, such as health insurance or a retirement plan, you are subject to certain requirements under ERISA.

While your administrator or insurance company may take care of most of your ERISA obligations, you should have some familiarity with the requirements of the law so that you can make sure the administrator is performing adequately. These discussions are designed to give you a flavor of what ERISA requires:

• what fringe benefits are covered under ERISA?
• what administrative requirements exist under ERISA
• what forms are involved under ERISA?