Claims Procedure. With respect to any claim for benefits which are provided for under this Policy, the claim shall be approved or denied by the Committee or a panel designated by the Committee within 90 days following the receipt of the information necessary to process the claim. If the Committee denies a claim for benefits in whole or in part, it will give written notice of the decision to the claimant or the claimant’s authorized representative, setting forth the specific reasons for such denial, make specific reference to the pertinent Policy provisions on which the decision was based, and provide any other additional information as may be required by [Section 503] of ERISA and the regulations thereunder.

Claim Procedure. A Participant is not required to file a claim in order to receive any benefits that are payable under the Plan but a Participant who believes he or she is entitled to benefits or additional benefits may file a written claim for benefits with the Committee. The Committee shall review any written claim for benefits that is submitted to it. If a claim is wholly or partially denied, the Committee will furnish the Participant written notice in accordance with Department of Labor regulations of the Committee’s decision within ninety (90) days of receipt of the written claim. The Committee’s notification shall include # the specific reasons for the denial, # the specific reference to the pertinent Plan provisions upon which the denial is based, # a description of any additional material or information necessary for the Participant to perfect the claim and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary and # a description of the Plan’s claims review procedures describing the steps to be taken and the applicable time limits to submit a claim for review, including a statement of the Participant’s right to bring a civil action under [Section 502(a)] of ERISA following an adverse benefit determination on review.

Claims Procedure. Any claim by a Participant with respect to eligibility, participation, contributions, benefits or other aspects of the operation of the Plan shall be made in writing to a person designated by the Committee from time to time for such purpose. If the designated person receiving a claim believes, following consultation with the Chairman of the Committee, that the claim should be denied, he or she shall notify the Participant in writing of the denial of the claim within ninety (90) days after his or her receipt thereof. This period may be extended an additional ninety (90) days in special circumstances and, in such event, the Participant shall be notified in writing of the extension, the special circumstances requiring the extension of time and the date by which the Committee expects to make a determination with respect to the claim. If the extension is required due to the Participant’s failure to submit information necessary to decide the claim, the period for making the determination will be tolled from the date on which the extension notice is sent until the date on which the Participant responds to the Plan’s request for information.

Claims Decisions. If the claim is granted, the benefits or relief the Claimant seeks will be provided. If the claim is wholly or partially denied, the claims official will, within ninety (90) days (or a longer period, as described above), provide the Claimant with written notice of the denial, setting forth, in a manner calculated to be understood by the Claimant: # the specific reason or reasons for the denial; # specific references to the provisions on which the denial is based; # a description of any additional material or information necessary for the Claimant to perfect the claim, together with an explanation of why the material or information is necessary; and # appropriate information as to the steps to be taken if the Claimant wishes to submit his or her claim for review, including the time limits applicable to such procedures, and a statement of the Claimant’s right to bring a civil action under [Section 502(a)] of ERISA following an adverse decision upon review. If the Claimant can establish that the claims official has failed to respond to the claim in a timely manner, the Claimant may treat the claim as having been denied by the claims official.