Benefit Notes
Understanding Employee Benefits
Benefit Notes, published by Stinson LLP, focuses on legal developments and compliance issues related to employee benefit plans and retirement plans. The blog covers topics such as annual limits and cost-of-living adjustments for qualified retirement plans, risk management in retirement plan litigation, legislative changes affecting health savings accounts and flexible spending arrangements, and regulatory updates impacting health plan compliance including HIPAA and mental health parity laws. It provides guidance on plan administration, fiduciary responsibilities, and the implications of recent court rulings and federal agency actions for employers and plan sponsors.
Latest from Benefit Notes - Page 5
IRS Begins Issuing ACA Employer Mandate Penalty Notices
By Tom Dowling
Recently, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) indicated that it would begin enforcing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Employer Shared Responsibility provisions (commonly known as the “Employer Mandate”). Last week, the IRS followed through on its promise and began mailing notices…
IRS Annual Limits on Qualified Plans for 2018
By Mark Wilkins
On October 19, 2017, the Internal Revenue Service released the 2018 cost-of-living adjustments affecting dollar limits on benefits and contributions for qualified retirement plans. The Notice providing the cost-of-living adjustments is available here. The Service also announced various other…
Back to Basics – Costly Consequences of Ignoring Process in Benefits Administration
The stories of an employer and a long-term disability insurer and claims fiduciary for an ERISA plan, defendants in two recent cases, ring so true. In the first case, the insurer was designated as claims fiduciary for an employer’s long-term…
More Ways to be Tagged with Withdrawal Liability
By Stinson LLP
Could your Oil and Gas Interest Cause You to Be Responsible for Multiemployer Plan Withdrawal Liability?
By Stinson LLP
I noticed an interesting case from the Tenth Circuit which found that a two to three percent working interest in an oil and gas venture could generate self-employment income for the owner of that interest. The individual in question entered…
IRS Annual Limits on Qualified Plans for 2017
By Stinson LLP
IRS Annual Limits on Qualified Plans for 2017
On October 27, 2016, the Internal Revenue Service released the 2017 cost of living adjustments affecting dollar limits on benefits and contributions under qualified retirement plans and health savings accounts. Changes from…
IRS and Treasury Department Seek Input on How Plan Sponsors Can Avoid Plan Document Problems
By Stinson LLP
On September 16, 2016, the IRS and the Department of the Treasury requested public comment on ways the IRS and Treasury “can improve compliance…by making it easier for plan sponsors to satisfy requirements for qualified plan documents” in the wake…
Employers Who Self Administer Life Insurance Plans Had Better Do So Correctly
By Stinson LLP
Many employers self-administer welfare benefit plans such as life insurance or disability insurance plans. This self administration requires the employer to determine eligibility for coverage, remit proper premiums and notify the insurance carrier about changes in coverage. The insurance carrier…