Work-Insurance and Benefits-Pennsylvania

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Insurance/Benefits
Employee Or Independent Contractor? (Find Out Which)
Health Benefits
Pension Information
Worker’s Compensation
Unemployment Benefits

Employee Or Independent Contractor?
An employee has far more legal rights than an independent contractor. For example, employees are far more likely to get insurance benefits in the case of an accident and also receive more protection against discrimination. In most cases, independent contractors cannot claim overtime and they must also pay additional taxes. Employers know this and will sometimes call you an independent contractor when you're really an employee. Protect yourself and know your rights. Find out your true status, which may be different from what you signed or agreed to.

Being An Independent Contractor-Legal Pros & Cons (Nolo Articles)
Also includes how to show you're not one so you can receive benefits.

How Courts Determine If You're An Employee Or Independent Contractor

Tips From The Working Woman's Legal Survival Guide
Employee versus Independent Contractor Status
Steps To Take To Avoid Problems
Consultants
Statutory Non-Employees
Sales Representatives
How To Turn An Oral Contract Into A Written Agreement
Steps To Take While Working
Steps To Take If You Are Fired

Statutory Employees (Very Brief)
Many people who work at home or who are paid on a commission basis (such as life insurance agents or salespeople) are classified by the IRS as statutory employees. This means your employer may have to withhold taxes in the same way as regular employees.

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Health Benefits

The COBRA Stimulus Plan-What You Need To Know
Eligible people may get a 65% premium reduction.

A Women's Rights To Equality In Health Benefits

Questions To Ask Regarding Employer Provided Health Benefits

COBRA Health Benefits
Know your rights. Federal COBRA law requires most private employers to continue to make existing group health insurance available to workers who are discharged or resign from employment.

For More Help See Consumer-SOS-Health & Medical

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Pension Information
Protecting Your Benefits
Family Members Rights To Benefits
The Employee Retirement Security Act
Pension Regulatory Agencies

Protecting Your Benefits

Overview Of Your Pension Plan And What You Need To Know

Mid-America Pension Rights Project (For Help In MI, OH, KY, IA, TN and PA)
Free legal help to retirees with pension concerns regardless of their income. Services include phone consultations with attorneys, brief services, and advocacy. For example, they can help with: filing claims, investigating benefit denials; pension benefits for spouses, divorced people or survivors, and finding pensions "lost" due to company mergers, relocation, or bankruptcy.

Protect Your Pension: A Quick Reference Guide
How to find out who is managing your pension money, rules that pension managers must follow, and what to do if you think there are problems.

Protecting Your Plan's Assets From Mismanagement And Misuse
Discusses the responsibilities of people who manage your pension plan and gives you guidance on how to protect your assets.

Protecting Your Benefits in the Event of Plan Terminations and Mergers
Describes what might happen to your benefits if your employer decides to terminate or merge your pension plan with another plan.

Receiving Pensions & Security

Payment Of Pension Benefits
Outlines your rights to payment of pension benefits.

The IRS Employee Plans Corner
Features employee retirement plan information.

The IRS Service Guide For Small Businesses
Includes a section on retirement plans, including information on SEPs, SIMPLE plans, Keogh (H.R. 10) Plans, and others.

What You Should Know About Your Pension Rights
Explains the rights and obligations you have under federal law as a pension participant ,as well as the rights and obligations of pension plan sponsors.

Your Right To Plan Information
Outlines the disclosure requirements of pension plans, including documents that a plan administrator must make available to you, the information these documents should contain and alternative sources of the information.

Benefit Accrual And Vesting
Rules for eligibility, benefit accrual and vesting

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Family Member Rights & Benefits

Providing Survivor Benefits To Your Spouse
Tells you what protections the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) provides to your surviving spouse if your benefit was vested upon your death.

Dividing Your Pension For Family Support
Describes the rights of the parties and the obligations of the plan if a spouse, former spouse, child or other dependent seeks a portion or all of your pension benefits.

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Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)

What Is the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA)?
Synopsis of law at bottom of page. ERISA sets the minimum standards for pension plans in private industry.

Frequently Asked Questions On ERISA (US Dept Of Labor)

Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
Full text of the ERISA statute and regulations

Making A Benefits Claim And Filing Suit Under ERISA
Outlines how and under what circumstances you can make a claim for benefits, tells you what appeal procedures to follow if your claim for benefits is denied, and describes your rights to pursue a lawsuit.

ERISA's Protections Against Inadequate Plan Funding
Discusses the rules that require employers to adequately fund their pension plans.

Where Else To Go For Help

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Pension Regulatory Agencies

Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)
The EBSA protects the integrity of pensions, health plans, and other employee benefits and can assist you in getting the information you need to protect your benefit rights.

EBSA Field Office Directory (Formerly PWBA)
Find contact information for the office in your region.

Divorce Orders & PBGC

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Worker’s Compensation

Worker's Compensation Guide For Pennsylvania

Worker's Compensation Facts (Brief)

Workers' Compensation
What to do when you have an accident, What on the job injuries are covered and the type of benefits you can receive.

Your Right To Apply For And Receive Workers Compensation

Find Your Workers' Compensation Agency (All 50 States & DC)

Workers Comp Claims: Prepping For Adverse Medical Exams

Consumer And Government Health Care Links (NCQA.org)

Find Your Local Newspaper, Magazine, Radio & TV Stations
Give them a little bad press and you're bargaining power increases tremendously. Select your state, and then click on your county or city for the proper media to report to. (DC Not Included).

Where Else To Go For Help

Unemployment Insurance Brochures (All 50 States & DC)
Choose your state and learn how to collect benefits, what to do if your denied and more. Also has good information for employers.

Summary Of How To Apply Or Qualify (All 50 States & DC)

Receiving Benefits In A Quit Or Discharge (Many States)
Smattering of states laws on when you can receive unemployment benefits. To find your state use the control F find function and enter the name of your state. On your keyboard, just by hold down the "control" button and then press the letter "F". Then enter your state in the search box. Use the "find next" button in the search box to see where else your state is mentioned.

Unemployment Benefits-Important Questions To Ask
Also tells you when your benefits can be denied.

Maximum Weekly UI Benefits (All 50 States & Territories)

Finding An Unemployment Insurance Office
Helps citizens find out more about unemployment insurance in their home state.

Preparing For A Benefits Hearing
Tips and strategies on what to do at an unemployment benefits Hearing.

Assistance For Needy Families By State
Welfare assistance in every state and DC.

Where Else To Go For Help

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Maximum Weekly Benefits By State

State By State Unemployment Benefits (As of 2/01/09)
Before taxes are taken out.