[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 150 (Thursday, August 4, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 51499]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-18414]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Employee Benefit Plan Claims Procedure Under 
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) will submit the Employee 
Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) sponsored information 
collection request (ICR) titled, ``Employee Benefit Plan Claims 
Procedure Under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act,'' to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on July 29, 2016, for review and 
approval for continued use, without change, in accordance with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. Public 
comments on the ICR are invited.

DATES: The OMB will consider all written comments that agency receives 
on or before September 6, 2016.

ADDRESSES: A copy of this ICR with applicable supporting documentation; 
including a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency 
of response, and estimated total burden may be obtained free of charge 
from the RegInfo.gov Web site at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201607-1210-004 (this link will only become active 
on July 30, 2016) or by contacting Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-
693-4129, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are not toll-free numbers) or by 
email at [email protected].
    Submit comments about this request by mail or courier to the Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL-
EBSA, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20503; by Fax: 202-395-5806 (this is not a toll-free 
number); or by email: [email protected]. Commenters are 
encouraged, but not required, to send a courtesy copy of any comments 
by mail or courier to the U.S. Department of Labor-OASAM, Office of the 
Chief Information Officer, Attn: Departmental Information Compliance 
Management Program, Room N1301, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20210; or by email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-
4129, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are not toll-free numbers) or by email 
at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

    Authority:  44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D).

    This ICR seeks to extend PRA authority for the Employee Benefit 
Plan Claims Procedure Under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act 
(ERISA) information collection. ERISA section 503 and regulations 29 
CFR 2560.503-1 require an employee benefit plan subject to the Act to 
establish procedures for resolving benefit claims under the plan, 
including initial claims and appeal of denied claims. The regulation 
requires specific information to be disclosed at different stages of 
the claims process. The regulation also requires claims denial notices 
to be provided within specific time frames and that the notices include 
specific information. ERISA section 503 authorizes this information 
collection. See 29 U.S.C. 1133.
    This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency 
generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and 
the public is generally not required to respond to an information 
collection, unless it is approved by the OMB under the PRA and displays 
a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any 
other provisions of law, no person shall generally be subject to 
penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information that 
does not display a valid Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 
1320.6. The DOL obtains OMB approval for this information collection 
under Control Number 1210-0053.
    The DOL seeks to extend PRA authorization for this information 
collection for three (3) more years, without any change to existing 
requirements. The DOL notes that existing information collection 
requirements submitted to the OMB receive a month-to-month extension 
while they undergo review. For additional substantive information about 
this ICR, see the related notice published in the Federal Register on 
November 23, 2015 (80 FR 72990).
    Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the OMB, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the address shown in 
the ADDRESSES section within thirty (30) days of publication of this 
notice in the Federal Register. In order to help ensure appropriate 
consideration, comments should mention OMB Control Number 1210-0053. 
The OMB is particularly interested in comments that:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses.
    Agency: DOL-EBSA.
    Title of Collection: Employee Benefit Plan Claims Procedure Under 
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
    OMB Control Number: 1210-0053.
    Affected Public: Private Sector--businesses or other for profits 
and not-for-profit institutions.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,790,000.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 311,153,000.
    Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 492,500 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $719,438.

     Dated: July 27, 2016.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-18414 Filed 8-3-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-29-P