EBSA is the Department of Labor office that enforces ERISA to protect private-sector retirement, health and other job‑based benefit plans and the people covered by them. It investigates plan problems, pursues civil and criminal enforcement when needed, runs compliance programs and provides benefits-advisor help and outreach to restore benefits and improve plan governance.
“Recovered” means money EBSA obtained and returned to plans, participants or beneficiaries (or paid to settle claims) — through enforcement settlements or judgments, voluntary correction programs, abandoned‑plan terminations, and informal complaint resolutions. Which recipients get the money depends on the violation and remedy (e.g., restored plan assets to a pension plan, reimbursement to an individual participant, or distributions under the Abandoned Plan Program).
EBSA’s enforcement includes civil investigations that can lead to voluntary corrections, administrative or civil litigation (via referral to the Solicitor of Labor), and criminal investigations and prosecutions for embezzlement, false statements, kickbacks and related crimes. Cases can be opened after participant complaints, Benefits‑Advisor referrals, data‑driven national projects, interagency tips or other leads; EBSA also pursues targeted national enforcement projects.
The Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program (VFCP) lets plan fiduciaries self‑identify and correct certain ERISA violations and submit an application to EBSA for approval; in return EBSA typically will not pursue enforcement for those corrected violations. Eligible corrections follow VFCP procedures and restore losses or provide required remedies before application.
The Abandoned Plan Program helps terminate and distribute assets from plans whose sponsors or fiduciaries have abandoned them. Qualified Termination Administrators submit applications; EBSA reviews and, when approved, the program enables distributions directly to participants and beneficiaries and resolution of custodial issues for abandoned plans.
EBSA prioritizes cases based on national enforcement priorities and projects (e.g., cybersecurity, mental‑health parity, No Surprises Act, protecting benefit distributions, retirement asset management), the potential harm to plans/participants, scope/scale (large‑asset or systemic problems), criminal indicators, and data or complaint volume that show widespread or serious violations.
Workers or employers can contact EBSA by emailing askebsa.dol.gov or calling 1‑866‑444‑3272 (toll‑free). Benefits Advisors handle inquiries and may resolve issues informally; serious or repeated complaints can be referred to investigators. After contacting EBSA expect intake by a Benefits Advisor, potential informal resolution (reprocessing claims, correcting records), or referral to enforcement which can lead to investigation and, if appropriate, corrective action or litigation.