For Compensation and Benefits Analysts ·
What you'll accomplish
This guide gives you a workflow for using Claude to rewrite changed sections of your Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs), taking dense legal language about plan changes and turning it into ERISA-compliant, plain-language updates that employees can actually understand. The goal: 30 minutes instead of 3 hours.
What you'll need
Before writing, get clear on:
What you should see: A clear list of what changed, when, and what documents you're working with.
Set context:
I'm a benefits analyst updating our Summary Plan Description following a benefits plan change. I need to rewrite the affected SPD section(s) to reflect the change while maintaining ERISA compliance and improving readability. The updated SPD will go to legal review before distribution. Please help me draft updated language.
Paste the current SPD language and the change details:
Here is our current SPD language for [section name]:
[PASTE CURRENT TEXT]
Here is what changed effective [date]:
[PASTE CHANGE DETAILS FROM AMENDMENT/CARRIER NOTICE]
Please:
1. Rewrite the affected paragraphs to reflect the change
2. Maintain all required ERISA terminology (I'll note key terms to preserve)
3. Write at an 8th-grade reading level for the unchanged portions
4. Flag any sections where you're uncertain about the legal requirement — mark those with [VERIFY WITH LEGAL]
5. Keep the same section numbering and heading structure
What you should see: Rewritten SPD language with the changes incorporated, readable improvements to existing text, and [VERIFY WITH LEGAL] flags on uncertain sections.
If you also need an SMM:
Based on the plan changes above, draft a Summary of Material Modifications (SMM) for this change. Include: what changed, what the old provision was, what the new provision is, and the effective date. ERISA plain language requirements apply. Mark as "For Legal Review."
Ask Claude to check for consistency:
Review the rewritten SPD section for consistency: (1) Are all defined terms used consistently throughout the section? (2) Are there any contradictory statements? (3) Are there any references to the old plan terms that weren't updated? Flag any issues found.
1. Dental plan network change:
Rewrite this SPD dental section to reflect a network change: [paste current text]. Old network: [carrier A]. New network: [carrier B], effective [date]. Employees should call the new number on their new card to find in-network providers. Maintain all plan terms — only the network name and contact information changed.
2. 401k match change:
Rewrite this 401k SPD section to reflect a match formula change: [paste current text]. Old match: 100% of first 3% of contributions. New match: 100% of first 4% of contributions, effective [date]. This is an improvement — write the update in a way that emphasizes the increased benefit.
3. Leave policy addition:
Add a new section to our benefits SPD covering our new parental leave policy: [primary caregivers receive X weeks paid, secondary caregivers receive Y weeks paid, must be taken within Z months of birth/adoption, cannot be combined with FMLA but runs concurrent]. Write in ERISA plain language. Flag any areas where FMLA coordination language should be reviewed by legal.