In the last week, the US Department of Labor has unleashed a barrage of welfare plan audits—and if you ever wondered what one of these looks like, read this.

Currently, we have had a 100 percent success rate in helping clients assemble the data to survive these audits. Within 72 hours of our client being notified that they are being audited, we had a binder like the one below sitting on their desk!

Our "secret" is that we assume these audits are going to happen to every client at some point and we prepare them in advance with required documents, notices,filings, etc.

When an audit does happen, we act quickly to assemble the information in a binder, like a presentation to the DOL.

Through experience, we have learned that your goal should be to comply as quickly and as thoroughly as possible—to lessen the chance of a field audit as well as the potential for an expanding scope. REMEMBER: when one of these notices comes to you, your firm is now under investigation by the  federal government, and they can expand the scope at will.

To have us help prepare your firm in advance for one of these audits, please give us a call at 1-888-Relph-First or use our contact form.

List of items required by DOL - in 10 days!

For each document or set of documents that you provide in response to this request; please number and label the front of each document or set of documents to correspond to the item numbers listed below. If any item listed below is not provided, please provide a brief explanation as to why the item is not being provided.

Unless otherwise specified below, this document request covers plan years beginning January 1, 2008 to Present.

1. Trust Agreement and all Amendments thereto;
2. Plan Document and all Amendments thereto (These documents should provide detailed descriptions of all health/medical benefits and services offered under the Plan, as well as explain any restrictions and costs to participants.);
3. Summary Plan Description ("SPD");
4. A copy of any Employee Handbook that describes the health/medical benefits offered under the Plan;
5. Documents that set forth eligibility criteria for enrolling in the Plan:
6. Enrollment Form for the Plan;
7. Forms 5500 or 5500-C/R Annual Retums/Reports of Employee Benefit Plan, including all Schedules, Accountant's Opinions, Financial Statements and Notes to Financial Statements;
8. Summary Annual Reports ("SAR");
9. IRS Determination Letter and any subsequent filings;
10. Fidelity Bond (a complete copy including the Declaration Page and all Riders/Endorsements together with documents pertaining to any claims made under the Bond);
11. Fiduciary Liability Insurance Policy;
12. The most recent Asset Statement/Investment Portfolio Statement for the Plan (the statement may not be more than three months old);
13. If the Plan is fully insured, provide a copy of the most recent monthly bill, premium request/invoice issued by the insurance carrier;
14. Proof of payment (e,g. cancelled check or record of wire transfer) of the premium described in item 13 above;
15. Documents that identify the premium cost to an employee for coverage offered under the Plan and the type of coverage offered (e.g. amount of weekly or monthly premium for individual, individual and spouse, or family coverage);
16. Documents that identify the premium cost to the Employer, for coverage offered under the Plan and the type of coverage offered (e.g. amount of weekly or monthly premium for individual, individual and spouse, or family coverage);
17. A copy of the payroll records that document the amounts withheld from each Participant's pay for his/her premium payment to the Plan for the premium described in item 13 above;
18. Documents which provide the name, title, address, telephone number, and dates of service for each individual/entity who has acted as Plan Trustee, Plan Administrator, board member and/or committee member with responsibility for administration of the Plan;
19. Documents which provide the name, title, address, and dates of service for each individual who has had signatory authority with respect to the Plan's accounts, including authorization for check writing, wire transfers, telephone transfers or any other transactions;
20. Documents which provide the name, address, and dates of service for each individual/entity who has provided services (e.g. administrative, custodial, recordkeeping, accounting, legal, etc.) to the Plan;
21. Service Provider contracts/agreements and amendments, as well as fee schedules;
22. Minutes of meetings of any Committee with responsibilities for the Plan;
23. A copy of the Plan's general notice of preexisting condition exclusion that has been issued to Plan participants or proof that the pIan does not impose a preexisting condition exclusion;
24. Documents (e.g. lists or logs) maintained by the Plan Administrator that identify the individual notices of preexisting condition exclusion that have been issued to individual Plan participants since January 1, 2009;
25. Documents maintained by the Plan Administrator which relate to any Participant claim that has been denied due to the imposition of a preexisting condition exclusion since January 1, 2009;
26. A sample Certificate of Creditable Coverage for the Plan;
27. Documents (e.g. lists or logs) maintained by the Plan Administrator that identify the individuals to whom Certificates of Creditable Coverage have been issued since January 1, 2009;
28. Documents that set forth the Plan's written procedure relating to Participants' ability to request and receive Certificates of Creditable Coverage;
29. A sample COBRA Notice for the Plan;
30. The Notice of Special Enrollment Rights that is distributed to employees on or before the time they are offered the opportunity to enroll in the Plan;
31. Documents (e.g. lists or logs) maintained by the Plan Administrator that identify the employees to whom the Notice of Special EnroIlment Rights has been issued since January 1, 2009;
32. Documents relating to any Wellness programs or Disease Management Programs offered under the Plan;
33. Documents relating to any breast cancer benefits offered under the Plan;
34. A copy ofthe Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act ("WHCRA") Notice distributed to Participants upon enrollment in the Plan and annually thereafter;
35. Documents (e.g. lists or logs) maintained by the Plan Administrator that identify the Participants to whom enrollment and annual WHCRA Notices have been issued since January 1, 2009;
36. A copy of the Newborns' Act notice;
37. Documents (e.g. lists or logs) maintained by the Plan Administrator that identify the Participants to whom Newborns' Act notices have been issued since January 1, 2009.