Say Yes to E-Disclosures: DOL's Form Approval Quest
Published Date: 8/19/2026
Notice
Summary
The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting this Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)-sponsored information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Online Posting and Notice Rules
Retirement plan administrators may post ERISA-required disclosures online and satisfy delivery by sending a notice of internet availability to a participant's electronic address (for example, email). The notice must include a brief description of the document, the website address where it is posted, and instructions for requesting a free paper copy or electing paper delivery; it must be sent each time a disclosure is posted, though limited combining of notices is allowed to prevent email overload.
Affirmative Electronic Consent Required
If you are a participant in an employee benefit plan, the rule requires you to affirmatively consent to receive required plan disclosures electronically or to confirm that consent electronically. That consent is used to show you can access the electronic form, to check hardware/software compatibility, and to provide the correct email address for future disclosures.
Paperwork Burden on Private Sector
The Department estimates the information collection affects the private sector with 849,335 respondents and 63,221,923 total responses. DOL estimates an annual time burden of 1,123,616 hours and annual other costs of $1,527,770 for this collection (OMB Control Number 1210-0121), and seeks OMB authorization for three years.
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Key Dates
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Previous: 2026-16882, Proposed Extension Without Change of a Currently Approved Information Collection: Claim for Continuance of Compensation
The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance request for comment to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This request helps to ensure that: requested data can be provided in the desired format; reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized; collection instruments are clearly understood; and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Division of Federal Employees' Compensation, (OWCP/DFEC) is soliciting comments on the information collection for the CA-12, Claim for Continuance of Compensation.
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