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OPA News Release: [02/03/2003]
Contact Name: Sue Hensley
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676
Labor Secretary Chao Renames Agency
Administering Retirement and Health Benefits
WASHINGTON--Today Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao
announced that the agency that administers private-sector retirement, health
and other employer-based benefit programs for more than 150 million workers and
their families is renamed the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA).
The agency was formerly known as the
Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration (PWBA).
EBSA Assistant
Secretary Ann L. Combs stated that, "This action helps us achieve our goal
of improved public service by making the agency more recognizable to those we
serve. We want to enable Americans to
better identify the federal agency that assists them in understanding and
receiving their benefits."
The name change is effective February 3,
2003. EBSA will
continue to meet the ever-increasing demand to assist workers with their health
and retirement benefits. The
agency will continue its outreach activities to educate individuals and the
business community about its programs, services and relevant federal law, and help employers and service providers comply with
their obligations under the law. Last
year, over 184,000 individuals contacted the agency for assistance.
The public may reach EBSA by using the
existing telephone, email and Web site contacts for PWBA. The agency is initiating a new toll-free
participant assistance number, 1-866-444-EBSA (3272), a new address for
electronic inquiries, www.askebsa.dol.gov,
and a new address for its Web site, www.dol.gov/ebsa.
To reduce paperwork and costs, employers and plans
will not be required to modify existing summary plan descriptions to reflect
the agency’s name change.
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