Decision on Review. The Plan Administrator will act on each request for review within sixty (60) days after receipt of the request, unless special circumstances require an extension of time (not to exceed an additional sixty (60) days), for processing the request for a review. If an extension for review is required, written notice of the extension will be furnished to the applicant within the initial sixty (60) day period. This notice of extension will describe the special circumstances necessitating the additional time and the date by which the Plan Administrator is to render its decision on the review. The Plan Administrator will give prompt, written or electronic notice of its decision to the applicant. Any electronic notice will comply with the regulations of the U.S. Department of Labor. In the event that the Plan Administrator confirms the denial of the application for benefits in whole or in part, the notice will set forth, in a manner calculated to be understood by the applicant, the following:

A decision will be rendered no more than 60 days after the Plan Administrator’s receipt of the request for review, except that such period may be extended for an additional 60 days if the Plan Administrator determines that special circumstances (such as for a hearing) require such extension. If an extension of time is required, written notice of the extension will be furnished to the claimant before the end of the initial 60-day period.

(c) Timing of Plan Administrator Response. The Plan Administrator shall respond to the claimant’s request for review within 60 days after receiving the request. If the Plan Administrator determines that special circumstances require additional time for processing the request, the Plan Administrator can extend the response period by an additional 60 days by notifying the claimant in writing, prior to the end of the initial 60-day period, which an additional period is required. The notice of extension must set forth the date by which the Plan Administrator expects to render its decision.

This notice of denial will be given to the applicant within ninety (90) days after the Plan Administrator receives the application, unless special circumstances require an extension of time, in which case, the Plan Administrator has up to an additional ninety (90) days for processing the application. If an extension of time for processing is required, written notice of the extension will be furnished to the applicant before the end of the initial ninety (90) day period.

The Plan Administrator shall render a determination upon the appealed claim which determination shall be accompanied by a written statement as to the reasons therefore. The determination shall be communicated to the Claimant within 60 days of the Claimant’s request for review, unless the Plan Administrator determines that special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim. In such case, the Plan Administrator shall notify the Claimant of the need for an extension of time to render its decision prior to the end of the initial 60-day period, and the Plan Administrator shall have an additional 60-day period to make its determination. The determination so rendered shall be binding upon all parties. If the determination is adverse to the Claimant, the notice shall: # provide the reason or reasons for denial; # make specific reference to the Plan provisions on which the determination was based; # include a statement that the Claimant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant to the Claimant’s claim for benefits; and # state that the Claimant has the right to bring an action under [section 502(a)] of ERISA.

Final Decision. The Administrator’s review will take into account all comments, documents, records, and other information submitted, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination. The Administrator will render a decision within 60 days after receipt of written request for review, unless the Administrator determines that special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim, in which case the Administrator will provide the Participant with written notice of the extension before the expiration of the initial 60-day period. The notice will indicate the special circumstances requiring an extension of time and the date by which the Administrator expects to render a decision. The extension will not exceed 120 days from receipt of a request for review by the Administrator.