Appeal Not Related to a Disability Determination
First-Level Appeal
If you, your beneficiary, or any other person (a “claimant”) believes that he or she has been denied benefits under the Plan or the Death Benefit Plan, the claimant may file an appeal with CPF, which will be subject to a full and fair review. A filed appeal must:
- Be in writing;
- Be submitted either by the claimant or by his or her authorized representative; and
- Provide detailed reasons, including any supporting evidence, about why the claimant believes that CPF’s initial decision was incorrect.
You should submit a first-level appeal to:
Church Pension Group
Attn: Appeals – First-Level Review
P. O. Box 2745
New York, NY 10163-2745
The claimant generally will receive a written response to his or her appeal within 60 days after the appeal is received by CPF. If CPF needs additional time (up to 60 days) to review the appeal, the claimant will be notified of the reason(s) for the delay and the anticipated response date, which may not exceed a total of 120 days from the date CPF receives the appeal.
If CPF denies the appeal, in whole or in part, CPF’s written response to the claimant will include:
- The specific reason(s) for the denial;
- Specific reference to the applicable plan’s provision(s) on which the denial is based; and
- A description of the applicable plan’s procedures for filing a second-level appeal.
Second-Level Appeal
Within 60 days following the date the claimant receives CPF’s denial letter for the first-level appeal, the claimant, or his or her authorized representative, may submit a second-level appeal to CPF. (CPF may, in its sole discretion, extend the 60-day period to file a second-level appeal.)
The appeal letter must be in writing and should give a detailed explanation of why the claimant believes the first level appeal should not have been denied. It should also include any other documents or supporting information that may have a bearing on the appeal.
You should submit a second-level appeal to:
Church Pension Group
Attn: Benefit Appeals Committee
P. O. Box 2745
New York, NY 10163-2745
The second-level appeal will be subject to a full and fair review that does not give deference to the determination of the first-level appeal. The claimant will generally receive a written response to his or her second-level appeal within 90 days after it is received by CPF. If CPF needs additional time (up to 90 days) to review the second-level appeal, the claimant will be notified of the reason(s) for the delay and the anticipated response date, which may not exceed a total of 180 days from the date CPF receives the second-level appeal.
If the second-level appeal is denied, CPF’s written response will give the specific reason(s) for the denial and the applicable plan’s provision(s) on which the final denial decision is based.