Rhode Island § 28-35-43 - Workers’ Compensation — Procedure

§ 28-35-43. Time payments due under order or decree — Penalty for delinquency.

Payment of compensation under a decision of the court becomes due upon the effective date of the order and weekly thereafter on the same day. If any payment payable under the terms of an order or decree is not paid within fourteen (14) days after it becomes due there shall be added to that unpaid payment an amount equal to twenty percent (20%) thereof, which shall be paid at the same time as, but in addition to, that compensation unless the nonpayment is excused by the workers’ compensation court after a showing by the employer or insurer that, owing to conditions over which they had no control, the payment could not be paid within the period prescribed for payment. However, if within one year next preceding the due date of any payment not paid within fourteen (14) days after it becomes due, two (2) or more payments payable under the terms of the order or decree have not been paid within fourteen (14) days after the payments have become due, it shall be conclusively presumed that the failure of the employer to make the instant payment was owing to conditions over which the employer had control. Any order or decree of the workers’ compensation court shall be enforceable by suitable action or proceeding brought by either of the parties to it before the court, including executions against goods, chattels, and real estate, and including proceedings for contempt for willful failure or neglect to obey the provisions of the order or decree.