Inflation-Adjusted ERISA Penalties – DOL
- Group Benefits and Retirement
- HR Compliance
- by Arman Vahdatinia
- on Sep 27, 2020
The Department of Labor recently released their inflation-adjusted penalties for ERISA, the Family Medical Leave Act, and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act.
The chart below shows some of the more common penalties assessed from DOL audits.
Failure to provide a summary of benefits and coverage | $1,190 per employee |
Failure to inform employees of CHIP coverage opportunities | $120 per employee per day |
Failure to comply with FMLA notice requirements | $178 per employee per day |
Failure to comply with certain GINA requirements | $120 per employee per day |
Failure to provide an SPD or plan documents | $120 per employee per day |
Failure to provide documents to the DOL upon request | $161 per day, not to exceed $1,613 per request |
Failure to file an annual 5500 form | $2,259 per day |
The new ERISA penalties serve as important reminders to employers who sponsor benefit plans. Many employers either think they are too small to be audited (not true), or that the medical carriers adhere to all the rules and furnish employees with what is required (not true). It is for this reason that we have taken on the responsibility to protect our clients by providing them with the proper notices and instructions to maintain compliance.....