The U.S. Department of Labor’s final disability claims procedures became effective for disability claims filed after April 1, 2018.  See No Fooling: New Disability Claims Procedures are Effective April 1, 2018. Any qualified or nonqualified retirement or deferred compensation plan governed by ERISA (including top hat plans that only cover a select group of management or highly compensated employees) that conditions a benefit on a determination of disability by the plan administrator must include the new procedures. If a plan conditions a benefit on disability as determined by another plan administrator or program, then the plan need not be amended, provided the plan making the determination is amended.  Plan documents generally must be amended by the end of the plan year that includes April 1, 2018.  For calendar year plans that means by December 31, 2018!