Ally Bank 2011 Annual Report Download - page 306

connection with making such request, the claimant may submit written comments, documents, records, and other
information relating to the claim for benefits. The claimant shall be provided, free of charge upon written request,
reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant (as defined in paragraph (k)
below) to the claimant’s claim for benefits. In considering the appeal the Vice President of Total Rewards 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 connection with the initial benefit
determination.
General procedure. The plan administrator shall notify a claimant of the Plan’s benefit determination upon
appeal within a reasonable period of time, but not later than 60 days after receipt of the claimant’s appeal.
However, the plan administrator may determine that special circumstances (such as the need to hold a hearing)
require an extension of time for processing the claim. If the plan administrator determines that an extension of
time, not to exceed 60 days, for processing is required, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the
claimant prior to the termination of the initial 60−day period. The extension notice shall indicate the special
circumstances requiring an extension of time and the date by which the Plan expects to render the determination
on appeal.
Calculating time periods. For the purposes of this paragraph (f), the period of time within which a benefit
determination on appeal is required to be made shall begin at the time an appeal is filed in accordance with the
Plan’s appeal filing requirements, without regard to whether all the information necessary to make a benefit
determination on appeal accompanies the filing. In the event that a period of time is extended as provided above
for the determination of a claim on appeal due to a claimant’s failure to submit information necessary to decide
an appeal of an adverse benefit determination, the period for making the benefit determination on appeal shall
be tolled from the date on which the notification of the extension is sent to the claimant until the date on which
the claimant responds to the request for additional information.
Furnishing documents. In the case of an adverse determination on appeal, the plan administrator shall provide
such access to, and copies of, documents, records, and other information described in subparagraphs (g)(3) and
(4) below as is appropriate.
7. The plan administrator shall provide a claimant with written or electronic notification of the Plan’s benefit determination
on appeal. Any electronic notification shall comply with the standards imposed by 29 CFR § 2520.104b−1(c)(i), (iii) and
(iv). In the case of an adverse benefit determination on appeal, the