The Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration (PWBA) safeguards the economic interests of more than 150 million people in six million employee benefit plans. To enforce the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), PWBA investigates employee benefit plans, conducts public education, and has begun a new voluntary correction program. Through its plan investigations, PWBA detects and corrects violations and has a deterrent presence that will prevent future violations. The Office of Enforcement prescribes areas for its regions to investigate. Regional offices have considerable flexibility in implementing PWBA's enforcement strategy by focusing most of their investigations on local issues. Although PWBA has taken steps to strengthen its enforcement activities, GAO found weaknesses in PWBA's enforcement strategy management and investigative process, its overall human capital management, and its measures for addressing program performance.

Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration: Opportunities Exist for Improving Management of the Enforcement Program

Provides information about the basic features of the private pension plan system & the federal framework that governs how private plans must operate. This private pensions primer includes questions & answers about the types of plans that private employers may sponsor, the benefits these plans provide, & the basic requirements that govern how these plans are administered. The answers are intended to be clear, concise, & easy-to-understand. Although the primer summarizes & explains some of the fundamental aspects of private pension plans, the material does not provide a complete technical interpretation regarding the many complexities of these plans or all of the rules & requirements that govern these plans. Charts & tables.