Rhode Island Temporary Disability Insurance - TDI

RI Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) is a state mandated benefit program that applies to private workers. Rhode Island Temporary Disability provides benefits for off the job accidents and illnesses. Rhode Island is one of only five states with mandated coverage. 

Read below and click the links to learn more about:

* RI Temporary Disability Insurance - Who is covered
* Rhode Island TDI Benefits - How the plan works
* Pregnancy and Maternity Leave - Key features of Rhode Island TDI, and how to increase your maternity benefit
* RI Temporary Disability Forms - How to file a claim for benefits

Temporary disability in RI covers your pregnancy and maternity leave.  For a normal pregnancy benefits are usually payable for up to four (4) weeks before the expected delivery date and up to six (6) weeks after the actual delivery date. 

Benefits may be payable for a longer period if your doctor certifies that you have a specific complication related to the pregnancy; you have a Caesarean section; or you have another simultaneous disability.

Temporary disability in RI provides a 40% pay cut at best for your pregnancy and maternity leave.  If you hit the weekly cap of $700, you may suffer more than a 40% pay cut.  Buy supplemental short term disability insurance for pregnancy before getting pregnant and increase your amount of maternity leave pay.

RI Temporary Disability Insurance provides coverage for private workers in Rhode Island.  Residency in the state does not automatically qualify you for benefits  - an important distinction that many people discover only after they become disabled. 

Many state residents are not covered by RI Temporary Disability Insurance.  Those not covered include but are not limited to:

• Federal government workers
• State, County, and Municipal employees are not required to participate.  Some local government employer groups choose to participate voluntarily.  Check with your employer.
• Commuters to Boston have no coverage at all.  There is no mandatory MA state disability insurance program.

Rhode Island TDI benefits replace 60% of your income, up to $700 per week in 2011.

Your weekly benefit rate will be equal to 4.62% of the wages paid to you in the highest quarter of your Base Period. Your weekly benefit rate remains the same throughout your benefit year. Effective 7/1/10, $69.00 is the minimum and $700.00 is the maximum benefit rate for claims with the benefit year begin date of 7-4-10 or greater. 

Rhode Island TDI benefits become payable after your disability exceeds a one week waiting period.  This waiting week also becomes payable if you receive benefits for all or some part of the three week immediately following the waiting week.

Consider purchasing supplemental disability insurance to increase your level of income replacement, or extend the length of time that benefits are payable. 

RI temporary disability forms can be found on the RI Department of Labor and Training website in the Temporary Disability area.  If you have specific questions about your claim, you can contact the Rhode Island Customer Service Information Center at: (401) 462-8420.