Temporary Disability Insurance Electronic Payment Card Program Frequently Asked Questions, RI DLT

Temporary Disability Insurance
Frequently Asked Questions

Click on each question to show the answer.

1. When and How Can I apply for Temporary Disability Insurance Benefits?: You can complete an application on-line at www.dlt.ri.gov/tdi. Or, you can call (401) 462-8420 and choose option 1. An application bar-coded with your personal information will be mailed to you. If you become ill or injured and an examination by a healthcare provider indicates that you cannot work for at least 7 consecutive days, your claim should be filed as soon as possible to avoid jeopardizing or delaying your first payment.
2. Who can I call if I have questions about my TDI Claim?: You can call (401) 462-8420 and get up-to date claims information from our voice response system. If you call between 8 AM and 3:50 PM Monday- Thursday and between 9 AM and 3:50 PM on Friday, you can speak to a customer service representative. You must provide your entire claim and personal identification (PIN) numbers when you call.
3. What are my benefit payment options?: Direct Deposit: To choose Direct Deposit to your checking or savings account, you must complete the Direct Deposit application form. To obtain a form, call (401)462-8420 or download the application form from this site: www.dlt.ri.gov/tdi, then complete and mail it to TDI, P.O. Box 20070, Cranston, RI 02920.
Electronic Payment Card: If you do not select direct deposit, you will automatically be sent an electronic payment card, which works like a debit card. For detailed information on the electronic payment card, visit www.dlt.ri.gov/tdi.
4. While collecting Temporary Disability benefits can I still get a check?: NO. The RI Department of Labor and Training will no longer issue checks. Payments are made through Direct Deposit or Electronic Payment Cards.
5. What is my claim Number? What is my PIN?: Your claim number is your 9 digit social security number (SSN) plus the 3 or 4 digits following it, which signify your benefit year ending date and record number. For security purposes only the last 4 digits of your SSN plus the digits following it are included on forms we send to you.

Your PIN is on the Notice of Claim Received that is sent to you when your application is received in TDI.
6. What are the medical requirements for TDI?: To be medically eligible for TDI benefits, a Qualified Healthcare Provider (QHP) must certify that you are unable to work for at least 7 consecutive days. Midwives, Nurse Practitioners, Physicians, Physician Assistants, Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialists, Licensed Clinical Social Workers-(lcsw), and Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers-(licsw) are Qualified Healthcare Providers. Your QHP will tell us the length of time he/she expects you to be unable to work.

For your eligibility to begin the first week you were disabled, you must be examined that week, the week before or the week after, your disability began. You may be asked to make an appointment with an impartial medical examiner if we believe an exam is necessary. Your benefits will be stopped if you do not make or keep the appointment.
7. What are the earnings requirements for TDI?: To be eligible for TDI benefits, you must have been paid at least $8,880 in either your Base Period or an Alternate Base Period (both are explained in the following sections). If you did not earn this amount, you may be eligible if you meet all of the following conditions:

1. You earned at least $1,480 in one of your base period quarters,
2. Your total base period wages are at least one and one-half times your highest quarter of earnings,
3. Your base period wages equal at least $2,960.
8. When will benefits be deposited in my account?: Generally, benefits will be deposited within 48 hours of approval by the Department of Labor & Training. Approval is based on monetary eligibility and medical certification from your Qualified Health Care Provider. You should always check your balance before using the card. You may conduct balance inquiries free of charge through the convenience of Internet access at www.myaccount.chase.com OR you can call Chase Customer Service toll-free number
1-866-847-8586.
9. What is the base period?: The base period is the period of time we use to determine if you have sufficient wages to be eligible. The base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before the starting date of your new claim. The calendar quarters are: Jan 1-March 31; April 1-June 30; July 1-Sept 30; and Oct 1-Dec 31. Once a quarter's wages are used to establish a claim, they cannot be used again on a later claim.
10. What is an alternate base period?: If you are not eligible using your base period earnings, we will recompute your claim using an alternate base period. The alternate base period is the last four completed calendar quarters before the starting date of your claim. While you must still meet the same earnings requirements, this allows some of your more recent wages to be used.
11. When does my claim begin?: Your claim begins with the Sunday of the week in which you became unable to work. This begins your Benefit Year. The Benefit Year is a 52 week period. Any additional claims (refiles) you submit during this period will have the same benefit year.
12. When will I get my first payment?: Most eligible customers get their first payment within 3-4 weeks from the day we receive their application. Missing, or wrong information may delay payment. Prompt responses from your QHP are needed to process your claim.
13. Why didn't I receive a payment for the first week I was on TDI?: You must serve a Waiting Period of 7 consecutive days at the start of your new claim. If your disability lasts 28 days or more, you will be paid for the waiting period. If you become eligible for TDI while you are in receipt of unemployment insurance (UI) you will not have to serve a waiting period on TDI.
14. If I file another claim, do I have to serve another waiting period?: You must serve a 7-day Waiting Period only once during each benefit year. You must still be disabled for at least 7 days before benefits can be paid on a second claim in the same benefit year..
15. How much will I receive? How much will I receive for dependency allowance?: Your weekly benefit rate will be equal to 4.62% of the wages paid to you in the highest quarter of your Base Period. Your weekly benefit rate remains the same throughout your benefit year. Effective 7/1/08, $69.00 is the minimum and $671.00 is the maximum benefit rate. This does not include dependency allowance.

If you have dependent children less than 18 years of age you may be entitled to a dependency allowance. Handicapped children over 18 may also qualify for the allowance. The dependency allowance is limited to 5 dependents and is equal to the greater of $10 or 7% of your benefit rate. Your dependency allowance is determined at the start of your benefit year and remains the same for the entire period.
16. Why is my TDI payment less than my full benefit amount?: If you become disabled or return to work in the middle of a week, you may be paid a lag payment. The lag payment would be 1/5 of your benefit rate for each workday you missed.
17. How long can I collect TDI? What if my disability is long-term?: The duration of your claim is equal to 36% of your total base period wages divided by your weekly benefit rate (not including dependent's allowance. The most you are allowed to collect is an amount equal to 30 full weeks. You may claim these weeks any time you are medically certified as unable to work during your benefit year.

You should consider filing for Social Security disability if your condition is expected to last at least a year. You don't have to wait until your Temporary Disability payments end to apply for Social Security disability. The application process can take up to 6 months so filing an application early is important. Social Security can start paying disability benefits after you have been disabled for 5 full months. Please visit social security's website at www.socialsecurity.gov for more information or contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or call your local social security office.
18. May I get paid by my employer and still collect TDI?: If you continue to be paid a salary, sick or vacation pay while you are unable to work, you are allowed to receive TDI.
19. Can I collect TDI and Unemployment Insurance (UI) for the same period of time?: You cannot receive TDI and UI for the same period. If you become disabled while collecting UI, you should file for TDI and immediately notify UI.
20. I'm pregnant. Can I collect TDI?: Pregnancy is treated the same way as any potentially disabling condition. Once your QHP tells you that you cannot continue to work because your condition is incapacitating, file your TDI claim.
21. I filed for Workers' Compensation (WC). Can I collect TDI too?: You cannot receive TDI for any period that you receive WC. If you were injured on the job you must file a claim for WC. If you have filed for WC and the claim is being contested, you may be eligible for TDI pending settlement of the WC claim. If you later receive WC for any weeks that TDI has been paid, you must notify us immediately so that any adjustments can be made.
22. I don't agree with a TDI decision regarding my claim. What can I do?: You have the RIGHT TO APPEAL any decision with which you do not agree, by submitting a request in writing to the TDI Appeals Coordinator at PO Box 20100, Cranston, RI 02920-0941 or by FAX at (401) 462-8466. Your case will be assigned to a Referee (Hearing Officer) at the Board of Review who will schedule a hearing at which time you may state your argument in detail.

You may bring witnesses or someone to represent you. You should bring any documents or other evidence that will support your claim. The Board is an impartial authority not under the direction of the Department of Labor and Training.
23. I've recovered, but I have no job. What can I do?: You should visit any of the Department's One-Stop Career Centers - netWORKri Centers. They can help you find work, enroll in training, and provide job counseling. You should also file a claim for Unemployment Insurance benefits by calling (401) 243-9100 or visiting www.dlt.ri.gov/ui.
24. Who pays for TDI?: The TDI program is financed entirely by employee payroll deductions. The current withholding rate is 1.4% of your first $50,600 in earnings. Workers aged 14 and 15 are exempt from wage deductions and TDI coverage. If you worked for more than one RI employer in a calendar year and your total wages were more than $49,000 (in 2005), you may be entitled to a TDI tax refund. You can download a TDI tax refund claim form from our website www.dlt.ri.gov/tdi. You can also obtain the refund form from the Division of Taxation, 1 Capitol Hill-Suite 36, Providence, RI 02908, (401) 222-3682.
25. Are TDI benefits taxable? Are TDI withholdings deductible?: TDI benefits paid to you are not subject to Federal or State income taxes. TDI withholdings from your earnings are deductible for Federal income tax reporting purposes.
26. Can I worked part-time and receive TDI?: If your QHP tells you that you are able to return to work part time and your employer has work available for you, you may be eligible to collect partial TDI payments. You are eligible to collect a partial TDI payment for any week, beginning on or after January 1, 2006, in which you have earnings of less than your weekly benefit rate. You must be totally unable to work for at least 7 consecutive days before you are eligible to receive partial benefits. For more information, visit our Partial Return to Work Program web page.
27. Can my TDI benefits be directly deposited to my bank account?: You have the option of having your benefits electronically deposited into your savings or checking account or receiving payment via the Electronic Payment Card (EPC). Click here to go to the EPC FAQ's for TDI.

If you think direct deposit will benefit you, be sure to complete the Request for Direct Deposit section of the TDI Application for Benefits. You may call (401) 462-8420 to have a Request for Direct Deposit mailed to you. If you want your benefits deposited into your checking account, you must attach a check marked "VOID" to your application. If you want your benefits deposited into your savings account, you must attach bank documentation that includes your account number and the bank routing number.
28. What if my QHP requires my authorization to release medical information?: If your QHP requires your authorization before releasing any medical information to TDI, a medical release will be mailed to you. After signing the authorization you must deliver (bring, fax or mail) the release to your healthcare provider. Additional copies of the Authorization for Release of Medical Information can be downloaded from our website, www.dlt.ri.gov/tdi.
29. What is the Claims Management Unit?: The Claims Management Unit (CMU) has recently been established in TDI. The CMU is staffed by two Registered Nurses who will be educating claimants, employers and QHPs on how the TDI program operates. The Claims Management Unit will also be reviewing TDI claims when the medical duration extends beyond the medical duration guidelines that TDI utilizes.
30. I have been granted family medical leave status from my employer in order to take care of a sick relative. Can I apply for TDI and receive benefits?: No. RI TDI only pays benefits to workers who are ill or injured and does not extend benefits to persons taking care of a sick relative while on family medical leave (FMLA). Anyone who receives Temporary Disability Insurance must be certified by a licensed Qualified Healthcare Practitioner that they are disabled and unable to work.


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	RI Department of Labor and Training Temporary Disability Insurance Phone: (401) 462-8420 Sandra M. Powell, Director