--- title: What's The Difference Between A Plan Document and An SPD? description: Machen McChesney provides business owners with information around the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the difference between a plan document and a summary plan description (SPD) pertaining to employee benefits. image: https://info.machen.cpa/hubfs/iStock-647717982-333137-edited.jpg --- [Family of Services](http://machenmcchesney.com/about-us/family-of-companies/)  |  [CPA & Business Advisory](http://machenmcchesney.com)  |  [Payroll, HR & Benefits](http://focuspaysolutions.com/)  |  [Wealth Management](http://machenmcchesney.com/services/financial-planning-and-wealth-mangement-services/) Auburn-Opelika (334) 887-7022 | Montgomery (334) 244-8900 [![mm-cobrand-fd-blues](https://info.machen.cpa/hs-fs/hubfs/mm-cobrand-fd-blues.png?width=279&height=100&name=mm-cobrand-fd-blues.png)](http://machenmcchesney.com) Search this site on Google Search Google Search this site on Google Search Google - 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[Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![iStock-647717982-333137-edited](https://info.machen.cpa/hs-fs/hubfs/iStock-647717982-333137-edited.jpg?width=1024&name=iStock-647717982-333137-edited.jpg)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/whats-the-difference-between-a-plan-document-and-an-spd)Most of the health and welfare plans offered by employers today are subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Generally, ERISA envisions that employee benefit plans will have both a plan document and a summary plan description (SPD). But, in some cases, a single document may serve both purposes. Let’s look at the difference between the two and under what circumstances they may be combined. **Plan documents** Plans subject to ERISA must be “established and maintained pursuant to a written instrument” called the plan document. It comprehensively sets forth the rights of the plan’s participants and beneficiaries by describing: • What benefits are available, • Who’s eligible, • How benefits are funded, • Who’s the named fiduciary, • How the plan can be amended, and • The procedures for allocating plan responsibilities. The plan document also guides the plan sponsor and plan administrator in making decisions and executing their responsibilities. **SPDs** ERISA also requires employee benefit plans to have an SPD. A key function of the SPD is conveying plan information in an understandable summary to participants. The SPD must include many specified items, such as: - Plan-identifying and eligibility information, - A description of plan benefits and circumstances causing loss or denial of benefits - Benefit claim procedures, and - A statement of participants’ ERISA rights. The SPD must be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the average plan participant and must be furnished at specific times to specific individuals. **Combining the two** Some health and welfare plans use a single document as both the plan document and SPD. If this approach is taken, the document must comply with both ERISA’s written plan document requirements and its SPD format and content rules. Some courts and commentators have expressed the view that a combined plan document and SPD is unacceptable because it’s impossible for a document to summarize itself. But at least two appellate courts have approved the combined approach for welfare plans. **Penalties possible** Participants and beneficiaries may request copies of the plan document and the SPD. Failure to furnish the documents within 30 days after the request may expose the ERISA plan administrator (typically the employer) to penalties of up to $110 per day — even if either document was already provided in the normal course, as may be the case with the SPD. Finally, note that for group health plans a summary of benefits and coverage (SBC) is also required but is separate from and in addition to the plan document and the SPD.  **For more information on the above article or other [employee benefits](https://focuspaysolutions.com/services/benefits/?__hstc=167141729.818e17217a46e350731dda2f9830cddb.1517000107002.1532093766060.1532103784409.589&__hssc=167141729.3.1532103784409&__hsfp=2939157323) questions,** **please contact Murry Guy, CPA at (334) 887-7022 or by leaving us a message below.** Topics: [Payroll, HR & Benefits](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/payroll-hr-benefits) Search this site on Google Search Google ### Recent Posts ### Subscribe to Blog ### Posts by Category - [Business Tax (356)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/business-tax) - [Business Advisory (238)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/business-advisory) - [Payroll, HR & Benefits (124)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/payroll-hr-benefits) - [Audit & Assurance (113)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/audit-assurance) - [Accounting & Outsourcing (81)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/accounting-outsourcing) - [Individual Tax (75)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/individual-tax) - [Tax Planning (33)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/tax-planning) - [Tax Updates (25)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/tax-updates) - [Retirement & Wealth Management Planning (18)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/retirement-wealth-management-planning) - [Taxation (15)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/taxation) - [Alerts (13)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/alerts) - [Business Valuation (11)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/business-valuation) - [News & Events (11)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/news-events) - [Tax News (11)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/tax-news) - [Individual Tax Planning (10)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/individual-tax-planning) - [Not For Profit (10)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/not-for-profit) - [Retirement Planning (9)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/retirement-planning) - [Estate Planning (8)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/estate-planning) - [Manufacturing Industry Insights (7)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/manufacturing-industry-insights) - [Individuals (1)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/individuals) - [Insider (1)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/insider) - [Professional Standard News (1)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/professional-standard-news) see all [![Returning\_Value](https://info.machen.cpa/hs-fs/file-2504250850-jpg/Machen-Blog-Image/Returning_Value.jpg)](http://machenmcchesney.com/about-us/mission-and-values/) - [![AICPA](https://machenmcchesney.com/img/logos/aicpa.jpg)](https://www.aicpa-cima.com/) - [![NACVA](https://machenmcchesney.com/img/logos/nacva.jpg)](http://www.nacva.com/) - ![2026 INSIDE Public Accounting Top 400](https://machenmcchesney.com/img/2026-ipa-top-400.jpg) - ![2026 Best of Auburn-Opelika](https://machenmcchesney.com/img/2026-best-of-auburn-opelika.jpg) - [![2025 Best of OA](https://machenmcchesney.com/img/2025-best-of-oa.jpg)](https://oanow.com/exclusive/readerschoice/ballot-2025/) - ![2026 Best of OA Winner](https://machenmcchesney.com/img/2026-best-of-oa-winner.jpg) - [![2025 Accounting Today Regional Leaders](https://machenmcchesney.com/img/2025-accounting-today-regional-leaders.jpg)](https://www.accountingtoday.com/) - [![ClearlyRated Best of Accounting](https://machenmcchesney.com/img/2024-best-of-accounting.jpg)](https://www.clearlyrated.com/accounting) - [![ClearlyRated Best of Accounting Employee](https://machenmcchesney.com/img/2024-best-of-accounting-employee.jpg)](https://www.clearlyrated.com/accounting) 1820 East University Drive, Auburn, AL 36830 | Tel: (334) 887-7022 | Fax: (334) 887-7221 1761 Taliaferro Trail, Montgomery, AL 36117 | Tel: (334) 244-8900 | Fax: (334) 364-0927 † This is not a CPA firm. \* Assurance, attest, and audit services provided by Frazier & Deeter, LLC. “Frazier & Deeter” is the brand name under which Frazier & Deeter, LLC\* and Frazier & Deeter Advisory, LLC† and its subsidiary entities provide professional services. 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