Claims Procedure. Any employee or other person who believes he or she is entitled to any payment under the Plan may submit a claim in writing to the Committee within 90 days of the earlier of # the date the claimant learned the amount of his or her benefits under the Plan or # the date the claimant learned that he or she will not be entitled to any benefits under the Plan. If the claim is denied (in full or in part), the claimant will be provided a written notice explaining the specific reasons for the denial and referring to the provisions of the Plan on which the denial is based. The notice also will describe any additional information needed to support the claim and the Plan’s procedures for appealing the denial. The denial notice will be provided within 90 days after the claim is received. If special circumstances require an extension of time (up to 90 days), written notice of the extension will be given within the initial 90-day period. This notice of extension will indicate the special circumstances requiring the extension of time and the date by which the Committee expects to render its decision on the claim.

When you timely file a claim for benefits, the Plan Administrator reviews your claim and makes a decision either to approve or deny the claim, in whole or in part. If your claim is approved, benefits will be paid (or provided) to you (or on your behalf). If your claim is denied, you will be notified in writing within a reasonable period of time, but not later than 90 days after receipt of your claim. If special circumstances require an extension of time for processing your claim, you will receive a written notice before the end of the initial 90-day period, and this extension will not exceed an additional 90 days. The notice will explain why an extension of time is necessary and when the Plan Administrator expects to render a decision.

Initial Claim. A Member or Beneficiary (or his or her duly authorized representative) (the "claimant") may file a claim for benefits in writing with the Committee. If any such claim is wholly or partially denied, the Committee will notify the claimant of its decision in writing and shall provide the claimant with a written notice identifying the reason or reasons for such denial and an explanation of the steps that the claimant must take if he wishes to appeal the denial. The Committee shall notify the claimant of any adverse benefit determination within a reasonable period of time, ordinarily within 90 days after receipt of the claim, unless the Committee determines additional time is required to make a determination.

Notice of Denial of Claim. If a claim is wholly or partially denied, the Plan Administrator shall notify the claimant of the denial of the claim within a reasonable period of time. Such notice of denial # shall be in writing, # shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant, and # shall contain # the specific reason or reasons for denial of the claim, # a specific reference to the pertinent Plan provisions upon which the denial is based, # a description of any additional material or information necessary for the claimant to perfect the claim, along with an explanation why such material or information is necessary, and # an explanation of the Plan’s claim review procedure. Unless special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim, the Plan Administrator shall notify the claimant of the claim denial no later than 90 days after the Plan Administrator’s receipt of the claim. If such an extension is required, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the claimant prior to the termination of the initial 90‑day period. The extension notice shall indicate the special circumstances requiring the extension of time and the date by which the Plan Administrator expects to render the final decision, which date will not be later than 180 days after the Plan Administrator’s receipt of the claim.

The claimant also shall be advised that he or his duly authorized representative may request a review by the Committee of the decision denying the claim by filing with the Committee, within 60 days after such notice has been received by the claimant, a written request for such review, and that he may review pertinent documents, and submit issues and comments in writing within the same 60-day period. If such request is so filed, such review shall be made by the Committee within 60 days after receipt of such request, unless special circumstances require an extension of time for processing, in which case the claimant shall be so notified within the original 60-day period and a decision shall be rendered as soon as possible, but not later than 120 days after receipt of the request for review. The Member or Beneficiary shall be given written notice of the decision resulting from such review, which notice shall include specific reasons for the decision, written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant, and specific references to the pertinent Plan provisions on which the decision is based.

Appeal Procedures. A request for appeal of a denied claim must be made in writing to the Committee within 60 days after receiving notice of denial. The decision on appeal will be made within 60 days after the Committee’s receipt of a request for appeal, unless special circumstances require an extension of time for processing, in which case a decision will be rendered not later than 120 days after receipt of a request for appeal. A notice of such an extension must be provided to the Claimant within the initial 60 day period and must explain the special circumstances and provide an expected date of decision. The reviewer shall provide the Claimant, 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. The Claimant may submit written comments, documents, records, and other information relating to the claim for benefits. The reviewer shall take into account all comments, documents, records, and other information submitted by the Claimant relating to the claim regardless of whether the information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination.

Upon receipt of a claim, the Committee shall advise the Claimant that a reply will be forthcoming within ninety days and shall, in fact, deliver such reply within such period. The Committee may, however, extend the reply period for an additional ninety days for special circumstances. If the claim is denied in whole or in part, the Committee shall inform the Claimant in writing, using language calculated to be understood by the Claimant, setting forth: # the specified reason or reasons for such denial, # the specific reference to pertinent provisions of this Plan on which such denial is based, # a description of any additional material or information necessary for the Claimant to perfect his or her claim and an explanation why such material or such information is necessary, # appropriate information as to the steps to be taken if the Claimant wishes to submit the claim for review, and # the time limits for requesting a review set forth below.

Review Procedure. Within 60 days after the date on which a person receives a written notification of denial of claim (or, if written notification is not provided, within 60 days of the date denial is considered to have occurred), such person (or his duly authorized representative) may # file a written request with the Claims Administrator for a review of his denied claim and of pertinent documents and # submit written issues and comments to the Claims Administrator. The Claims Administrator will notify such person of its decision in writing. Such notification will be written in a manner calculated to be understood by such person and will contain specific reasons for the decision as well as specific references to pertinent Plan provisions. The decision on review will be made within 60 days after the request for review is received by the Claims Administrator (or within 120 days, if special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the request, such as an election by the Claims Administrator to hold a hearing, and if written notice of such extension and circumstances is given to such person within the initial 60-day period). If the decision on review is not made within such period, the claim will be considered denied. Except as otherwise provided in [Section 9.5], the decision, action or inaction of the Claims Administrative shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons having an interest in the Plan.

A Participant or, following the Participant’s death, a Beneficiary (collectively referred to in this section as “Claimant”) may submit a claim for benefits under the Plan. Any claim for benefits under this Plan shall be made in writing to the Administrator. If such claim for benefits is wholly or partially denied, the Administrator shall, within 90 days after receipt of the claim, notify the Claimant of the denial of the claim unless special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim, which extension shall not exceed 180 days from receipt of the claim. If such extension is required, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the Claimant prior to the termination of the initial 90-day period and shall indicate the special circumstances requiring an extension of time and the date by which the Administrator expects to render a final decision. A notice of denial shall be in writing, shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the Claimant, and shall contain the specific reason or reasons for denial of the claim, a specific reference to the pertinent Plan provisions upon which the denial is based, a description of the additional material or information (if any) necessary to perfect the claim, together with an explanation of why such material or information is necessary, and an explanation of the claims review procedure set forth below, including a statement of the Claimant’s right to bring a civil action under [section 502(a)] of ERISA following an adverse benefit determination on review.

Action on Application. Within ninety (90) days after receipt of an application and all necessary information, the Committee will furnish the claimant a written notice of its decision. If the Committee denies the claim in whole or in part, the notice will set forth # specific reason for the denial, with specific reference to Plan provisions upon which the denial is based; # a description of any additional information or material necessary to process the application with an explanation why such material or information is necessary; and # an explanation of the claim review procedure under the Plan.

A claimant is entitled to request a review of any denial of his claim under Section 7.4(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 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.