The ever-increasing number of people are pushed into quarantine as the notorious pandemic strikes with just as much force as in December 2020. With about 1,200 new cases a week – as the number keeps rising – applications for Temporary Disability Insurance are piling up as well.
According to the director of the R.I. Department of Labor and Training, Matt Weldon, there are more than 900 claims a week on average, with over 1,600 TCI and TDI applications made in the second to last week of the current month.
The executive, however, believes that the increase in applications reflects not only the increase in COVID-19 cases but also the end of state unemployment benefits. TDI benefits cover slightly more than half of an individual’s income – but not more than $1,000 a week – and are not taxed, unlike TCI benefits.
Matt Weldon claims that since the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program – the one created by the state to help the unemployed affected by COVID-19 – expired, people had no choice but to apply for TDI.
The catch, however, is that the TDI now requires the doctor’s note after the first week of receiving benefits. The order to waive the requirement has expired, which makes the whole thing much more complicated for thousands of applicants. That said, the first week of benefits is still note-free, as well as there are plans to extend the note-free term to two weeks, dictated by the official requirement to quarantine for 10 days.
Oleksandr is an expert in deep research. He covers various insurance topics across verticals, adopting to every local law.
