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Employee Benefit Plan Claims Procedure Under ERISA - OMB Information Collection Comment Request

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Published April 3rd, 2026
Detected April 3rd, 2026
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Summary

The Department of Labor has submitted an information collection request to OMB regarding Employee Benefit Plan Claims Procedure under ERISA. The notice requests public comments on the burden hours and information requirements for ERISA-covered employee benefit plans. Comments are due by May 4, 2026.

What changed

The Department of Labor is submitting for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review an information collection request concerning the claims procedure requirements under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). The collection pertains to the procedural requirements that employee benefit plans must follow when processing claims and appeals. This is a routine administrative action to renew or confirm existing information collection requirements under 29 CFR 2560.503-1.

Plan sponsors, plan administrators, and insurers maintaining ERISA-covered employee benefit plans should review the notice and submit comments by May 4, 2026 if they have concerns about the estimated burden hours or information requirements. This is an opportunity to provide input on the adequacy and necessity of the current claims procedure disclosure and documentation requirements.

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Notice

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Employee Benefit Plan Claims Procedure Under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act

A Notice by the Labor Department on 04/03/2026

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  2. Document Details Published Content - Document Details Agency Department of Labor Document Citation 91 FR 16976 Document Number 2026-06509 Document Type Notice Pages 16976-16977 (2 pages) Publication Date 04/03/2026 Published Content - Document Details
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  • Document Details Published Content - Document Details Agency Department of Labor Document Citation 91 FR 16976 Document Number 2026-06509 Document Type Notice Pages 16976-16977 (2 pages) Publication Date 04/03/2026 Published Content - Document Details
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Department of Labor

ACTION:

Notice of availability; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting this Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)-sponsored information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

DATES:

The OMB will consider all written comments that the agency receives on or before May 4, 2026.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michael Howell by telephone at 202-693-6782, or by email at DOLPRAPUBLIC@dol.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

In November 2000, the Department issued a final regulation establishing minimum claims procedure requirements that all employee benefit plans under ERISA must meet in order to satisfy the requirements of section 503 of ERISA. Section 505 of ERISA authorizes the Secretary to prescribe regulations as appropriate or necessary to carry out the provisions of Title I of ERISA. The regulation requires plans to provide every claimant who is denied a claim with a written or electronic notice that contains the specific reasons for denial, a reference to the relevant plan provisions on which the denial is based, a description of any additional information necessary to perfect the claim, and a description of steps to be taken if the participant or beneficiary wishes to appeal the denial. The ( printed page 16977) regulation also requires that any adverse decision upon review be in writing (including electronic means) and include specific reasons for the decision, as well as references to relevant plan provisions. For additional substantive information about this ICR, see the related notice published in the Federal Register on July 11, 2025 (90 FR 30984).

Comments are invited on: (1) whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the burden and cost of the collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and the public is generally not required to respond to an information collection, unless the OMB approves it and displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person shall generally be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information that does not display a valid OMB Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6.

DOL seeks PRA authorization for this information collection for three (3) years. OMB authorization for an ICR cannot be for more than three (3) years without renewal. The DOL notes that information collection requirements submitted to the OMB for existing ICRs receive a month-to-month extension while they undergo review.

Agency: DOL-EBSA.

Title of Collection: Employee Benefit Plan Claims Procedure Under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

OMB Control Number: 1210-0053.

Affected Public: Private sector.

Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,336,356.

Total Estimated Number of Responses: 1,910,577,375.

Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 38,050,660 hours.

Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $501,736,152.

(Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D).)

Michael Howell,

Senior Paperwork Reduction Act Analyst.

[FR Doc. 2026-06509 Filed 4-2-26; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-29-P

Published Document: 2026-06509 (91 FR 16976)

Named provisions

Employee Benefit Plan Claims Procedure Under ERISA

Classification

Agency
Labor Department
Published
April 3rd, 2026
Comment period closes
May 4th, 2026 (30 days)
Compliance deadline
May 4th, 2026 (30 days)
Instrument
Notice
Legal weight
Non-binding
Stage
Consultation
Change scope
Minor
Document ID
91 FR 16976

Who this affects

Applies to
Employers Insurers
Industry sector
5241 Insurance 9211 Government & Public Administration
Activity scope
Employee Benefit Plan Administration ERISA Claims Processing
Geographic scope
United States US

Taxonomy

Primary area
Employment & Labor
Operational domain
Compliance
Topics
Pensions & Retirement Healthcare

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