Rhode Island § 28-41-6 - Temporary Disability Insurance — Benefits

§ 28-41-6. Effect on waiting period credit and benefits of receipt of workers’ compensation payments.

(a) No individual shall be entitled to receive waiting period credit benefits or dependents’ allowances with respect to which benefits are paid or payable to that individual under any workers’ compensation law of this state, any other state, or the federal government, on account of any disability caused by accident or illness. In the event that workers’ compensation benefits are subsequently awarded to an individual, whether on a weekly basis or as a lump sum, for a week or weeks with respect to which that individual has received waiting period credit, benefits, or dependents’ allowances, under chapters 39 — 41 of this title, the director, for the temporary disability insurance fund, shall be subrogated to that individual’s rights in that award to the extent of the amount of benefits and/or dependents’ allowances paid to him or her under those chapters.

Provided, however, that nothing herein shall be construed to deny benefits or waiting period credit benefits or dependents’ allowances under this chapter to individuals who receive a lump sum settlement pursuant to § 28-33-25 and subsequently apply for benefits under this chapter as long as the sickness or illness is materially different from the one for which the individual was paid workers’ compensation, is not affected by the injury and/or the medical condition did not result from the injury for which the employee was paid workers’ compensation benefits.

(b)(1) Whenever an employer or the employer’s insurance carrier has been notified that an individual has filed a claim for unemployment due to sickness for any week or weeks under chapters 39 — 41 of this title for which week or weeks that individual is or may be eligible for benefits under chapters 29 — 38 of this title, that notice shall constitute a lien upon any pending award, order, or settlement to that individual under chapters 29 — 38 of this title.

(2) The employer or the employer’s insurance carrier shall be required to reimburse the director, for the temporary disability insurance fund, the amount of benefits and/or dependents’ allowances received by the individual under chapters 39 — 41 of this title, for any week or weeks for which that award, order, or settlement is made.

(c) Whenever an individual becomes entitled to or is awarded workers’ compensation benefits for the same week or weeks with respect to which he or she has received benefits and/or dependents’ allowances under chapters 39 — 41 of this title, and notice of that receipt has been given to the division of workers’ compensation of the department of labor and training and/or the workers’ compensation court, the division or court is required to and shall incorporate in the award, order, or approval of settlement, an order requiring the employer or the employer’s insurance carrier to reimburse the director, for the temporary disability insurance fund, the amount of any disability benefits and/or dependents’ allowances that may have been paid to the employee for unemployment due to sickness for those weeks under chapters 39 — 41 of this title. Nothing herein shall be construed to deny benefits under this chapter to individuals who receive a lump sum settlement pursuant to § 28-33-25 and subsequently apply for benefits under this chapter as long as the sickness or illness is materially different from the one for which the individual was paid workers’ compensation, is not affected by that injury and/or the medical condition did not result from the injury for which the employee was paid workers’ compensation benefits.

(d) If, through inadvertence, error, or mistake, an individual has received benefit payments and/or dependents’ allowances for any week or weeks under chapters 39 — 41 of this title, and has also received payments for the same week or weeks under any workers’ compensation law of this state, any other state, or of the federal government, he or she shall, in the discretion of the director of the department of labor and training, be liable to have that sum deducted from any benefits payable to him or her under chapters 39 — 41 of this title, or shall be liable to repay to the director, for the temporary disability insurance fund, a sum equal to that amount received, and that sum shall be collectible in the manner provided in § 28-40-12 for the collection of past due contributions.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, no individual who, prior to September 1, 1969, has sustained an injury by reason of which he or she may be eligible for benefits under chapters 29 — 38 of this title shall be deprived of any rights which he or she may have under chapters 39 — 41 of this title.