Pensions and Benefits

▶Agencies

Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans (ERISA Advisory Council) (Labor Dept.), 200 Constitution Ave. N.W., #N5623, 20210; (202) 693-8337. Fax, (202) 219-8141. Christine Donahue, Executive Secretary, (202) 693-8641. Toll-free, (866) 444-3272.

Web, www.dol.gov/agencies/ebsa/about-ebsa/about-us/erisa-advisory-council

Advises and makes recommendations to the secretary of labor under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) (Labor Dept.), Compensation and Working Conditions (OCWC), 2 Massachusetts Ave. N.E., #4130, 20212; (202) 691-6199. Fax, (202) 691-7013. Kristen A. Monaco, Associate Commissioner.

Web, www.bls.gov

Conducts quarterly surveys of wages and benefits; data used for the quarterly Employment Cost Index, the quarterly Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, and annual reports on the incidence and provisions of employee benefits.

Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) (Labor Dept.), 200 Constitution Ave. N.W., #S2524, 20210; (202) 693-8300. Fax, (202) 219-5526. Preston Rutledge, Assistant Secretary. Toll-free, (866) 444-3272.

Web, www.dol.gov/ebsa

[Page 246]Administers, regulates, and enforces private employee benefit plan standards established by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), with particular emphasis on fiduciary obligations; receives and maintains required reports from employee benefit plan administrators pursuant to ERISA.

Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, 77 K St. N.E., #1000, 20002; (202) 942-1600. Fax, (202) 942-1672. Ravindra Deo, Executive Director, (202) 942-1601. Toll-free, (877) 968-3778. TTY, (877) 847-4385.

Web, www.frtib.gov

Administers the Thrift Savings Plan, a tax-deferred, defined contribution plan that permits federal employees and members of the uniformed services to save for additional retirement security under a program similar to private 401(k) plans.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) (Treasury Dept.), Joint Board for the Enrollment of Actuaries, 1111 Constitution Ave. N.W., SE:RPO, Room 3422, 20224; Thomas V. Curtin, Executive Director; Chet Andrzejewski, Chair.

General email, nhqjbea@irs.gov

Web, www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/enrolled-actuaries

Joint board, with members from the departments of Labor and Treasury and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., established under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Promulgates regulations for the enrollment of pension actuaries; examines applicants and grants certificates of enrollment; disciplines enrolled actuaries who have engaged in misconduct in the discharge of duties under ERISA.

Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Retirement Operations, 1900 E St. N.W., #2H28, 20415; (724) 794-2005. Fax, (724) 794-4323. Kenneth J. Zawodny Jr., Associate Director, (724) 794-7759. Toll-free, (888) 767-6738. TTY, (855) 887-4957.

General email, retire@opm.gov

Web, www.opm.gov/retire

Provides civil servants with information and assistance on federal retirement payments.

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., 1200 K St. N.W., 20005-4026 (mailing address: P.O. Box 151750, Alexandria, VA 22315-1750); (202) 326-4000. Fax, (202) 326-4047. Alice Maroni, Chief Management Officer. Customer Service, (800) 400-7242. General legal inquiries, (202) 326-4020. Locator, (202) 326-4110. TTY, (800) 877-8339, ask to connect to (800) 400-7242.

Web, www.pbgc.gov, Twitter, @USPBGC and Facebook, www.facebook.com/uspbgc

Self-financed U.S. government corporation. Insures private-sector defined benefit pension plans; guarantees payment of retirement benefits subject to certain limitations established in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Provides insolvent multiemployer pension plans with financial assistance to enable them to pay guaranteed retirement benefits.

Railroad Retirement Board, Legislative Affairs, 1310 G St. N.W., #500, 20005-3004; (202) 272-7742. Fax, (202) 272-7728. Beverly Britton-Fraser, Director. Toll-free, (877) 772-5772.

General email, ola@rrb.gov/org/ogc/ola.asp

Web, https://rrb.gov/OurAgency/OfficeofGeneralCounsel/OfficeofLegislativeAffair

Assists congressional offices with inquiries on retirement, spouse, survivor, unemployment, and sickness benefits for railroad employees and retirees. Assists with legislation. (Headquarters in Chicago, Ill.)

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