RI Increases Temporary Caregiver Benefits - Sam Slade

RI Increases Temporary Caregiver Benefits - Sam Slade

Before the Rhode Island General Assembly wrapped up its legislative session last month, it approved an expansion of its temporary caregiver insurance (TCI) benefits, which was signed by the governor on July 6. Under the amendment, the maximum coverage period will increase to five weeks annually starting Jan. 1, 2022, and six weeks annually beginning Jan. 1, 2023.

What is Temporary Caregiver Insurance?

The state’s TCI program provides weekly caregiver benefits for eligible workers to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, domestic partner, parent, parent-in-law or grandparent, or to bond with a newborn child, new adopted child, or new foster care child.

The benefits equal 4.62% of the employee’s wages in the highest quarter of their base period, with a minimum rate of $107.00 and a maximum rate of $978.00. The TCI program is financed by an employee payroll tax. The current withholding rate is 1.3% of a worker’s first $74,000 in earnings.

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Who Qualifies for Benefits?

To be eligible for TCI benefits, an individual must:

Have worked in Rhode Island;

Meet certain earnings requirements; and

Have paid into the state's temporary disability insurance fund.

The law also requires an employee to provide their employer with a 30-days notice in writing unless unforeseeable circumstances exist.

Once an employee files for TCI, you’ll receive a form to verify the last day the individual performed services for your company.

 

What’s Changing?

TCI was signed into law in 2013 and currently allows a worker to receive up to four weeks of TCI benefits during a benefit year of 52 consecutive calendar weeks.

Following the passage of the amendment, starting January 1, 2022, benefit coverage will be increased by a week for a maximum coverage period of five weeks, and starting Jan. 1, 2023, the coverage period will be expanded again to a maximum of six weeks.

Sam Slade is Managing Director, Employee Benefits, at The Hilb Group of New England, where he delivers consulting and brokerage services to local employers. He has extensive experience in all aspects of employee benefits, including underwriting, plan design, communications, compliance, and analytics, with a particular focus on alternative funding and self-insurance. Sam lives in South Kingstown with his wife and three sons.