ERISA rules are different from regular insurance and court rules. If you have been denied any of these types of benefits under a policy or plan provided by your employer, there are many rules involved in appealing these case and taking them to court that are different from ordinary insurance and contract disputes. One of the special rules about ERISA cases is that the person applying benefits must get all the information in to support his or her case before the insurance company of plan makes a final decision; otherwise, that information will not be considered by a court later on, if the claim is denied. Also, the rules in ERISA cases usually give the insurance company or decision-maker the benefit of the doubt in court, so that knowing what information to submit is crucial to successfully obtaining ERISA benefits.

Pension benefits include not only ordinary retirement benefits, but some pensions provide for benefits on account of disability or death. ERISA applies whether the benefits are provided through an insurance policy or a plan funded by the employer’s own assets.

If you are applying for ERISA benefits, or have applied and been denied, you should consider asking an ERISA benefits lawyer. You should get that attorney involved as early as possible so they can help you with your case.

ERISA is a complicated area of the law, where the insurance companies, unions, and employers know the rules. You need attorneys on your side who know the ERISA rules, and know what rights you have under ERISA.

For a more detailed explanation of what it means if ERISA applies to your claim, read Eric Buchanan’s article, “What Does It Mean if ERISA Applies to My Insurance Case?”.