ERISA Overview
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) is a federal law that sets minimum standards for welfare and pension plans in private industry. ERISA does not require any employer to establish a plan. It only requires that those who establish plans must meet certain minimum standards.
ERISA:
  1. requires plans to regularly provide participants with information about the plan including information about plan features and funding;
  2. sets minimum standards for participation, vesting, benefit accrual and funding;
  3. requires accountability of plan fiduciaries; and
  4. gives participants the right to sue for benefits and breaches of fiduciary duty.

The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) enforces ERISA.
Below you will find links to several helpful Department of Labor websites. These links will take you to compliance requirements for ERISA benefit plans.

http://www.dol.gov/compliance/laws/comp-erisa.htm
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