A Participant or his or her beneficiary (if applicable) may file a written claim with the Committee with respect to his or her rights to receive a benefit from the Plan. ​ will be informed of the decision of the Committee with respect to the claim within 90 days after it is filed. Under special circumstances, the Committee may require an additional period of not more than 90 days to review a claim. If this occurs, ​ will be notified in writing as to the length of the extension, the reason for the extension, and any other information needed in order to process the claim. If a Participant is not notified within the 90-day (or 180-day, if so extended) period, he or she may consider the claim to be denied.

A Participant or his or her beneficiary (if applicable) may file a written claim with the Committee with respect to his or her rights to receive a benefit from the Plan. The Participant will be informed of the decision of the Committee with respect to the claim within 90 days after it is filed. Under special circumstances, the Committee may require an additional period of not more than 90 days to review a claim. If this occurs, the Participant will be notified in writing as to the length of the extension, the reason for the extension, and any other information needed in order to process the claim. If a Participant is not notified within the 90-day (or 180-day, if so extended) period, he or she may consider the claim to be denied.

A Participant may file a claim with respect to amounts asserted to be due hereunder by filing a written claim with the Committee specifying the nature of such claim in detail. The Committee shall notify the claimant within 60 days as to whether the claim is allowed or denied, unless the claimant receives written notice from the Committee prior to the end of the 60 day period stating that special circumstances require an extension of time for a decision on the claim, in which case the period shall be extended by an additional 60 days. Notice of the Committee’s decision shall be in writing, sent by mail to the Participant’s last known address and, if the claim is denied, such notice shall # state the specific reasons for denial, # refer to the specific provisions of the Plan upon which such denial is based, and # if applicable, describe any additional information or material necessary to perfect the claim, an explanation of why such information or material is necessary, and an explanation of the review procedure in [Section 8.4(b)].

General. Each Participant (and each person or entity claiming rights under the Plan through such Participant) shall claim any benefit to which he or she is entitled under the Plan by a written notification to the Committee. If a claim is denied, it must be denied within a reasonable period of time, but not in excess of 90 days following receipt of the claim by the Committee unless the Committee determines that special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim, in which case, the Committee shall provide the claimant with written notice of extension prior to the termination of the initial 90 day period and shall have an additional 90 days from the expiration of the initial 90 day period to decide such claim. Any such notice of extension shall indicate the special circumstances requiring an extension of time and the date by which the Committee expects to render its decision, The Committee’s decision with respect to such claim shall be provided to the claimant in writing in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant, and if such claim is denied, shall include # the specific reason for the denial, # reference to the specific Plan provisions on which the denial is based, # a description of additional information necessary for the claimant to present his claim, if any, and an explanation of why such information is necessary, and # an explanation of the Plan’s claim review procedures and the time limits applicable to such procedures, including a statement of the claimant’s right to bring a civil action under [Section 502] of ERISA following an adverse determination on review.

12.1Filing a Claim. A Participant or beneficiary of a Participant who believes that he or she is eligible for a benefit under this Plan that has not been provided may submit a written claim for benefits to the Officer Committee. The Officer Committee shall evaluate each properly filed claim and notify the claimant of the approval or denial of the claim within 90 days after the Officer Committee receives the claim, unless special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim. If an extension of time for processing the claim is required, the Officer Committee shall provide the claimant with written notice of the extension before the expiration of the initial 90-day period, specifying the circumstances requiring an extension and the date by which a final decision will be reached (which date shall not be later than 180 days after the date on which the Officer Committee received the claim). If a claim is denied in whole or in part, the Officer Committee shall provide the claimant with a written notice setting forth # the specific reasons for the denial, # references to pertinent Plan provisions upon which the denial is based, # a description of any additional material or information needed and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary, and # the claimant’s right to seek review of the denial pursuant to [Section 12.2] below.

Notification by Committee. Within 90 days after receiving a claim for benefits (or within 180 days, if special circumstances require an extension of time and written notice of the extension is given to the Participant or Beneficiary within 90 days after receiving the claim for benefits), the Committee shall notify the Participant or Beneficiary whether the claim has been approved or denied. If the Committee denies a claim in any respect, the Committee shall set forth in a written notice to the Participant or Beneficiary:

Denial of Claim. In the case of the denial of a claim respecting benefits paid or payable with respect to a Participant, a written notice will be furnished to the Claimant within 90 days of the date on which the claim is received by the Committee. If special circumstances (such as for a hearing) require a longer period, the Claimant will be notified in writing, prior to the expiration of the 90-day period, of the reasons for an extension of time; provided, however, that no extensions will be permitted beyond 90 days after the expiration of the initial 90-day period.

If the claim is denied and a review is desired, the Participant (or beneficiary) shall notify the Committee in writing within sixty (60) days after receipt of the written notice of denial. In requesting a review, the Participant or beneficiary may request a review of pertinent documents with regard to the benefits created under this Plan, may submit any written issues and comments, may request an extension of time for such written submission of issues and comments, and may request that a hearing be held, but the decision to hold a hearing shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee.

Any Participant or beneficiary who believes he or she is entitled to receive a distribution under the Plan which he or she did not receive or that amounts credited to his or her Account are inaccurate, may file a written claim signed by the Participant, beneficiary or authorized representative with the Claims Reviewer, specifying the basis for the claim. The Claims Reviewer shall provide a claimant with written or electronic notification of its determination on the claim within ninety days after such claim was filed; provided, however, if the Claims Reviewer determines special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim, the claimant shall receive within the initial ninety-day period a written notice of the extension for a period of up to ninety days from the end of the initial ninety day period. The extension notice shall indicate the special circumstances requiring the extension and the date by which the Plan expects to render the benefit determination.

Claim Procedure. The Committee procedure for handling all claims hereunder and review of denied claims shall be consistent with the provisions of ERISA. If a claim for Plan benefits is denied, the Committee shall provide a written notice within 90 days to the person claiming the benefits that contains the specific reasons for the denial, specific references to Plan provisions on which the Committee based its denial and a statement that the claimant may # request a review upon written application to the Committee within 60 days, # may review pertinent Plan documents and # may submit issues and comments in writing. If a claim is denied because of incomplete information, the notice shall also indicate what additional information is required. If additional time is required to make a decision on the claim, the Committee shall notify the claimant of the delay within the original 90 day period. This notice will also indicate the special circumstances requiring the extension and the date by which a decision is expected. This extension period may not exceed 90 days beyond the end of the first 90-day period.