Benefits Handbook

If your claim concerns whether or not you are eligible to participate in a plan, you may file a claim with the Plan Administrator for enrollment. The claim should be in writing and specify why you believe you are eligible to participate in a plan, include any mitigating factors, documents, records or other information that you believe are relevant to your claim.

Claims concerning plan eligibility or enrollment, rather than claims for benefits (see "Claims for Benefits" for more information), should be addressed to the Plan Administrator at the following address:

The plan will evaluate and decide your claim for eligibility or enrollment within 90 days. If, due to special circumstances, the plan needs more time to decide your claim, the plan will notify you within the 90-day period that more time is needed, why it is needed, and the date by which you can expect a decision. The Plan Administrator can have up to 90 additional days to decide your claim.

The Plan Administrator will send you written notice of its decision within 90 days (or 180 days if an extension applies). This notice must be in plain language that can be understood. It must include all the specific reasons for the denial, refer you to the plan provisions on which the decision is based. If more information is needed from you to decide the claim, it must tell you what that information is, and why it is needed. It also must describe the plan's procedures and deadlines for submitting an appeal of your claim for a full and fair review.

If you believe your claim for eligibility or enrollment was improperly decided, you may file a written appeal with the Benefits Administration Committee within 60 days of your notification of a claim denial. A written appeal of a denied claim should include any additional information you would like the Benefits Administration Committee to consider.

The Benefits Administration Committee will make a benefit determination on your appeal no later than the date of the meeting of the committee that immediately follows the plan's receipt of an appeal, unless the appeal is filed within 30 days before the date of the meeting. In such case, the Benefits Administration Committee will make the benefit determination no later than the date of the Benefits Administration Committee's second meeting following the plan's receipt of the appeal. If special circumstances require a further extension of time for processing an appeal, a benefit determination will be rendered not later than the third meeting of the Benefits Administration Committee following receipt of the appeal.

Once a final decision on your appeal is made, you will receive a written explanation of the decision. The explanation must be in plain language that can be understood. If your appeal is denied, the explanation will:

If your claim concerns whether or not you are eligible for a benefit under a plan, you may file a claim with the Plan Administrator for a benefit. The claim should be in writing and specify the circumstances under which you do not have a benefit, why you believe you should the benefit and include any mitigating factors, documents, records or other information that may be pertinent and should be sent to the Plan Administrator.

Claims concerning plan benefits under the Retirement or Savings Plans, should be addressed to the Plan Administrator at the following address:

In the case of a claim, the Plan Administrator will notify you of the benefit determination (whether adverse or not) no later than 90 days after your claim was received. This period may be extended one time by the Plan Administrator for up to 90 days, provided that the extension is necessary due to matters beyond the control of the Plan Administrator and/or the Benefits Administration Committee and you are notified prior to the expiration of the initial 90-day period of the circumstances requiring the extension and the date by which the Plan Administrator expects to render a decision. If additional information is needed to process the claim, the Plan Administrator and/or the Benefits Administration Committee will notify you within this 90-day period and may request a one-time extension of not more than 90 days and suspend your claim until all information is received. A denial notice will explain the reason for denial, refer to the part of the plan on which the denial is based, describe any additional material or information necessary to complete claim so it may be processed, provide the claim appeal procedures, and include a statement of your right to bring a civil action under section 502(a) of ERISA if your appeal is denied.

If you believe a benefit under a retirement or savings plan was denied improperly by the Plan Administrator, you or your representative may file a written appeal for the unpaid amount within 60 days of receipt of notification of the adverse benefit determination. The written appeal should specify the nature and amount of the claim, include any other written comments, documents, records or other information that may be pertinent and should be sent to the Plan Administrator. A written decision will usually be issued by the Plan Administrator within 60 days of your written appeal. This period may be extended for up to 60 days by the Plan Administrator if the Plan Administrator determines that the extension is necessary. You will be notified prior to the expiration of the initial 60-day period of the circumstances requiring the extension and the date by which the Plan Administrator expects to render a decision. If your appeal is denied, the written decision will explain the reason for denial, refer to the section of the plan on which the denial is based, inform you that, if you request, you are entitled to receive, at no cost, reasonable access and copies of all relevant documents, and include a statement of your right to bring a civil action under section 502(a) of ERISA if your appeal is denied.

Upon request, you will be provided, free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of all documents, records, and other information relevant to your claim for benefits.