EBSA Announces Two More Compliance Workshops

According to an announcement, EBSA will hold two free workshops in two separate locations – to help employers, pension plan administrators and other benefit professionals comply with federal employee benefits law.  

The workshops will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on September 18, and Silver Spring, Maryland on September 16.

The Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program Workshop, scheduled from 9:30 to11:30 a.m. EDT (in both locations, albeit on different dates), will offer comprehensive information and one-on-one help on how to apply to and use the Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program (VFCP) to self-correct violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).   The program is designed to make it easier for benefit managers and professionals to comply with ERISA and avoid enforcement action by the Labor Department

The workshop is open to employers, accountants, fiduciaries, third party administrators, attorneys and anyone else concerned about responsibilities in administering employee benefit plans.   One-on-one assistance will be available after the workshop.

Forms to register for this program are online at

Silver Springs:  http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/pdf/VFCPMD.pdf   

Pittsburgh  http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/pdf/VFCPPA.pdf

The Abandoned Plan Program workshop, scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. EDT (again, in both locations), is designed for employee benefit professionals and will cover the federal regulations governing abandoned plans.   Issues to be discussed include:

• what is an abandoned plan;
• how to terminate and wind down the plan; and
• who may initiate and carry out the process of terminating an abandoned plan.  

Registration is limited to 40 people for both workshops (in both locations), and is on a first-come, first-served basis.   Individuals should register as soon as possible to ensure space availability.  

For more information and to register, contact Lisa Scimeca, EBSA's associate regional director, at 215-861-5313, or e-mail VFCP-PHIRO@dol.gov.   Registrants also will need to complete a form available on the agency's Web site at www.dol.gov/ebsa .

The September 18 Pittsburgh workshop will be held at the Radisson Hotel Pittsburgh Greentree located at 101 Radisson Drive in Pittsburgh.

The September 16 Silver Springs workshop will be held at EBSA's Washington District Office, 1335 East West Highway (first floor) in Silver Spring.