The claimant may request a review of any denial of his or her claim by written application to the Committee within 60 days after receipt of the notice of denial of such claim. Within 60 days (or, if special circumstances require an extension of time for processing, 120 days, in which case notice of such special circumstances should be provided within the initial 60-day period) after receipt of written application for review, the Committee will provide the claimant with its decision in writing, including, if the claimant's claim is not approved, specific reasons for the decision and specific references to the Plan provisions on which the decision is based.

The claimant will have sixty days to request a review of the denial by the Committee, which will provide a full and fair review. The request for review must be in writing delivered to the Committee. The claimant may review pertinent documents, and he may submit issues and comments in writing. The decision by the Committee with respect to the review must be given within sixty days after receipt of the request, unless special circumstances require an extension (such as for a hearing). In no event shall the decision be delayed beyond 120 days after receipt of the request for review. The decision shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant, and it shall include specific reasons and refer to specific Plan provisions as to its effect.

The claimant may request a review of a denied claim by writing the Committee in care of the Plan Administrator. The appeal must, however, be made within 60 days after the claimant's receipt of notice of the denial of the claim. Pertinent documents may be reviewed in preparing an appeal, and issues and comments may be submitted in writing. An appeal shall be given a complete review by the Committee, and a written decision, including reasons, shall be provided within 60 days. If there are special circumstances requiring an extensive review, the Committee shall notify the claimant in a written notice within the original 60 day period of its receipt of the appeal and indicating that the decision will be delayed. A final decision on the appeal shall be made within 120 days of the Committee's receipt of the appeal.

A claimant is entitled to request a review of any denial of his or her claim under Section 8.4(a). The request for review must be submitted to the Committee in writing within 60 days of mailing by the Committee of notice of the denial. Absent a request for review within the 60 day period, the claim will be deemed conclusively denied. The claimant or his or her representative shall be entitled to review all pertinent documents, and to submit issues and comments orally and in writing to the Committee. The review shall be conducted by the Committee, which shall afford the claimant a hearing and which shall render a decision in writing within 60 days of a request for a review, provided that, if the Committee determines prior to the end of such 60 day review period that special circumstances require an extension of time for the review and decision of the denial, the period for review and decision on the denial shall be extended by an additional 60 days. The claimant shall receive written notice of the Committee’s review decision, together with specific reasons for the decision and reference to the pertinent provisions of the Plan.

The claimant may request a review of a denied claim by writing the Committee in care of the Plan Administrator. The appeal must, however, be made within 60 days after the claimant's receipt of notice of the denial of the claim. Pertinent documents may be reviewed in preparing an appeal, and issues and comments may be submitted in writing. An appeal shall be given a complete review by the Committee, and a written decision, including reasons, shall be provided within 60 days. If there are special circumstances requiring an extensive review, the Committee shall notify the claimant in a written notice within the original 60 day period of its receipt of the appeal and indicating that the decision will be delayed. A final decision on the appeal shall be made within 120 days of the Committee's receipt of the appeal.

The decision on the review of the denied claim shall be rendered by the Committee within sixty (60) days after the receipt of the request for review (if no hearing is held) or within sixty (60) days after the hearing if one is held. However, if special circumstances require an extension of the period of time for considering an appeal, the 60-day period can be extended for an additional 60 days by giving the claimant written notice of the extension, the reason why the extension is necessary, and the date a decision is expected. The decision shall be written and shall state the specific reasons for the decision including references to the specific provisions of this Plan on which the decision is based.

Appeal Process. Following the denial of a claim, the claimant shall have 60 days to request, in writing, a review of the denial by the Committee, which will provide a full and fair review. The claimant may review pertinent documents, and may submit written comments, documents, records and other information relating to the claim. In addition, upon request and free of charge, the claimant shall be provided reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant to the claim. The Committee’s decision on review must be given within 60 days after receipt of the request for review unless the Committee determines that special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim (such as a hearing), in which case, written notice of the extension shall be provided to the claimant prior to the expiration of the initial 60 day period and the Committee shall have an additional 60 days from the expiration of the initial 60 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 review shall take into account all comments, documents, records and other information submitted by the claimant relating to the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination. The Committee’s decision 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 # specific reasons for the adverse determination, # reference to the specific Plan provisions on which the determination is based, # 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 claim and # a statement of the claimant’s right to bring an action under [Section 502] of ERISA.

The Committee shall render its decision on review promptly, and not later than sixty (60) days after the filing of a written request for review of the denial, unless a hearing is held or other special circumstances require additional time, in which case the Committee’s decision must be rendered within one hundred twenty (120) days after such date. The Claimant will receive written notification if any extension beyond the original sixty (60) days is necessary. Such decision must be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the Claimant, and it must contain:

Claims Review Procedure: If an application filed by a Participant or Beneficiary under Section 2.15 above shall result in a denial by the Committee of the benefit applied for, either in whole or in part, such applicant shall have the right, to be exercised by written request filed with the Committee within sixty (60) days after receipt of notice of the denial of his application or, if no such notice has been given, within sixty (60) days after the application is deemed denied under Section 2.15, for the review of his application and of his entitlement to the benefit for which he applied. Such request for review may contain such additional information and comments as the applicant may wish to present. Within sixty (60) days after receipt of any such request for review, the Committee shall reconsider the application in light of such additional information and comments as the applicant may have presented, and if the applicant shall have so requested, shall afford the applicant a hearing before the Committee. The Committee shall also permit the applicant or his designated representative to review pertinent documents in its possession, including copies of the Plan document and information provided by the Employer relating to the applicant's entitlement to such benefit. The Committee shall make a final determination with respect to the applicant's application for review as soon as practicable, and in any event not later am sixty (60) days after receipt of the aforesaid request for review, except that under special circumstances, such as the necessity for holding a hearing, such sixty-day period may be extended to the extent necessary, but in no event beyond the expiration of one hundred twenty (120) days after receipt by the Committee of such request. If such an extension of time for review is required because of special circumstances, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the applicant before the commencement of the extension. Notice of such final determination of the Committee shall be furnished to the applicant in writing, in a manner calculated to be understood by him, and shall set forth the specific reasons for the decision and specific references to the pertinent provisions of the Plan on which the decision is based. If the decision on review is not furnished within the time period set forth above, the claim shall be deemed denied on review.

Within a reasonable period of time after the denial of the claim, but in any event, not to be more than sixty (60) days, the claimant or his/her duly authorized representative may make written application to the Committee for a review of such denial. The claimant or his/her representative, may, upon request and free of charge, review or receive copies of documents, records and other information relevant to the claimant’s claim for benefits, and may submit written comments, documents, records and other information relating to the claim for benefits.