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UT System Administration Policy Library -- Policy INT103
Workers’ Compensation Insurance Program |
Responsible Officer: Director of Risk Management
Sponsoring Office: Office of Risk Management
Effective Date: February 1, 2001
Last Reviewed: January 7, 2008
Next Scheduled Review: January 8, 2010
Errors or changes to: policyoffice@utsystem.edu
CONTENTS
Policy Statement
Rationale
Scope
Website Address For This Policy
Related Policies, Requirements Or Standards
Contacts
Definitions
Responsibilities
Procedures
Forms Tools/Online Processes
Appendix
POLICY STATEMENT
All employees of The University of Texas System (UT System) whose names appear on the payroll are eligible for Workers’ Compensation Insurance as provided by Chapter 503 of the Texas Labor Code.
RATIONALE
The purpose of this policy is to provide for the administration of a self-insured Workers’ Compensation Insurance Program. The program is administered by The University of Texas System Administration’s Office of Risk Management.
SCOPE
All Offices of UT System Administration
WEBSITE ADDRESS FOR THIS POLICY
http://www.utsystem.edu/policy/policies/int103.html
RELATED STATUTES, POLICIES, REQUIREMENTS OR STANDARDS
UT System Administration Policies & Standards |
Other Statutes, Policies & Standards |
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CONTACTS
If you have any questions about UT System Administration Policy INT 103, Workers' Compensation Insurance Program, contact the following offices:
DEFINITIONS
See http://www.utsystem.edu/orm/wci/wcidef.htm
RESPONSIBILITIES
Office of Risk Management
- The Office of Risk of Risk Management is responsible for administering the Workers’ Compensation Insurance program.
All Employees
- Give notice of any on the job injury and follow applicable Workers’ Compensation Insurance procedures including proper filing of relevant forms.
UT System supervisors
- Assist employee to process and comply with Workers’ Compensation Insurance procedures including filing proper forms.
PROCEDURES
1. NOTIFICATION OF COVERAGE
1.1 UT System must give notice to all employees that Workers’ Compensation Insurance is provided.
2. MEDICAL BENEFITS
2.1 If an employee’s injury is found to be compensable under The UT System Workers’ Compensation Insurance program, the employee is entitled to all health care that:
- cures or relieves the effects naturally resulting from the compensable injury;
- promotes recovery; and/or
- enhances the ability of the employee to return to or retain employment.
3. INCOME BENEFITS
3.1 Temporary income benefits (TIBS) accrue from the eighth day of disability and are paid weekly. "Disability" is defined as the inability to obtain and retain employment at wages equivalent to pre-injury wages because of a compensable injury. An employee's inability to work because of a compensable injury should be documented by his or her treating physician.
For purposes of receiving temporary income benefits, an employee may elect:
- to use paid leave. First, all sick leave must be exhausted, once sick leave has been exhausted, then one or more weeks of other paid
leave may be used in lieu of receiving TIBS. Prior to making an election concerning the use of other paid leave, an employee must be advised that there is a seven-day waiting period where TIBS are not payable, should disability extend to the 14th day after the first day disability, the carrier will then issue a TIBS payment for the waiting period.
- to be placed on leave without pay status immediately and begin receiving temporary income benefits after an initial seven-day waiting period.
4. DEATH AND SURVIVOR BENEFITS
4.1 If the injury or occupational disease results in the death of the employee, the current statute provides for a lump sum funeral expense benefit. In addition, the surviving spouse is eligible for a weekly benefit payable until the spouse’s death or remarriage. In the event of remarriage, a lump sum payment equal in amount to the benefits due for a period of two years will be paid to the surviving spouse. Surviving children may be eligible to share a portion of weekly death benefits.
4.2 Any beneficiary claiming entitlement to receive death benefits must first file a “Statement of Beneficiary” form with both The UT System Workers’ Compensation Insurance office and TDI-DWC. More detailed instructions regarding claims for death benefits may be obtained by calling The UT System Workers’ Compensation Insurance office.
5. NONDISCRIMINATION AGAINST CLAIMS
5.1 The UT System shall not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against any employee because the employee has filed a claim; instituted, or cause to be instituted, any proceeding under the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act; or has testified or is about to testify in any such proceeding.
5.2 An employee discharged in violation of this policy will be entitled to be reinstated to his or her former position, upon appropriate adjudication.
5.3 Nothing contained in this policy shall prevent discipline or discharge of any employee for just cause, in accordance with established discipline and discharge policy.
5.4 Nothing in this policy is intended to be a waiver of any of the legal rights of The UT System.
5.5 The UT System shall cooperate with TDI-DWC and the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitive Services in seeking to provide rehabilitation to disabled employees.
FORMS AND TOOLS/ONLINE PROCESSES
Record Keeping and Required Forms :
Employer’s First Report of Injury http://www.utsystem.edu/orm/wci/firstrep.htm
APPENDIX
None
keywords: worker's compensation, medical benefits, worker's comp, workman's comp, HR, human resources
