The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration today announced that it has launched a Web site providing contact information on employee benefit plan sponsors whose operations have been disrupted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Employers who sponsor benefit plans are being encouraged to update their contact information with the department if it has changed so that “employees, plan participants and their families, as well as the many other support organizations assisting victims of the hurricanes, to reach plan administrators with questions and information related to their retirement and health benefits.”
The Website includes a searchable data base that lists pre-hurricane contact information garnered from the Form 5500 Annual Reports filed previously by all employee benefit plans located in the affected disaster areas. Employers/plan sponsors who wish to update or correct their contact information included on the database may do so by calling toll free 1.866.444.EBSA (3272) and submitting a Verification of Contact Information Form.
Also, the IRS has provided a summary of laws governing Hurricane Katrina relief under KETRA: “Tax Favored Treatment for Early Distributions from IRAs and other Retirement Plans for Victims of Hurricane Katrina.”