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Show Forms Available to Help People Determine Retirement Benefit More than a half-million description forms filed by pension and welfare plans under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act are now available for public inspection, according to Secretary of Labor Ray Marshall. The EBS-1 plan description forms were filled out by the plans themselves. They are designed to inform the Labor Department and plan members about benefits offered and other provisions. "One of the principal objectives of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act," Secretary Marshall said, "is to let people know what benefits they have coming under retirement and other benefit plans, and the requirements to qualify. "By making these forms available, we hope to fulfill this objective," Marshall said. Henry C. Lee, area administrator ad-ministrator of the Labor Department's Labor Management Services office in Denver, said that the plan descriptions are on microfilm but can be copied. Copies are obtainable from the Washington, D.C. headquarters for a copying fee to cover costs. "Reporting and disclosure is a key part of the department's depart-ment's enforcement effort," Lee said. "We must make these forms available for inspections in speedy fashion, or they will lose their meaning for those with an interest in learning about the rules and activities of their benefit plans." Lee also noted that the first annual report forms (5500 series) filed by plans will be available for public inspection starting Sept. 1. Inspection of the plan descriptions-and after Sept. 1, of the annual report forms-can forms-can be made at the Public Disclosure Room, N4677, Department of Labor Bldg., Third St. and Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20216 (202-523-8771). Lee's office may be contacted con-tacted for information and assistance: Labor Management Services, U.S. Dept. Of Labor, 1961 Stout Street Room 15415, Denver, Colo. 80294 (303-837-5061). |