Remedy for active employee who discovers error in accrued benefit.

[Gary]

Say an active employee discovers an error in his accrued pension. What remedy is there? Could the employee file a formal claim for additional benefits, even though he has not even commenced benefits? Or is this handled more informally through letters?

[david rigby]

Active employee? Where is the harm? Where is the need to file a claim?

If we are focusing on an error, that usually means (to me anyway) a data correction. If so, the employee should bring that to the attention of the plan sponsor. But beware, sometimes a data correction might not affect the benefit. Plan provisions still apply.

If the "error" is related to an interpretation of plan provisions, then my advice is unchanged: bring it to the attention of the employer, and ask for a response.

In any case, the employer should respond with its analysis of the facts and/or plan interpretation.