Disabled Workers' Relief Fund

Disabled Workers’ Relief Fund (DWRF) is a separate supplemental fund established to provide relief to an injured worker who is receiving permanent total disability (PTD) compensation benefits by raising the cost of living level. RC 4123.412 

 

According toRC 4123.413 , to participate in the Disabled Workers’ Relief Fund (DWRF), the injured worker must be permanently and totally disabled.  Additional information regarding PTD is available on COR under the Permanent Total Disability policy.

 

 

Initial Investigation

 

An initial review and investigation, is completed by the DWRF CSS when a hard copy of the PTD hearing docket sheet is received from the Industrial Commission (IC).  The DWRF Unit will also receive a copy of the PTD Order to determine the beginning date for the payment of DWRF benefits.

 

This investigation includes an automatic interface with the Social Security Administration (SSA) in order to check for the appropriate social security number (SSN) and any benefits the injured worker may be receiving.

 

The DWRF Unit will receive the date of birth and/or death (if applicable) from the SSA.  SSA also supplies BWC with address information, the type of social security the injured worker is receiving (if any), and if the injured worker applied and was denied social security benefits.  The DWRF Unit will get a confirmation that the injured worker’s name matches the name SSA has for the social security number.  If the DWRF Unit receives a different date of birth or date of death with the social security information, the DWRF CSS will contact the assigned CSS to have the information updated.

 

 

Social Security Benefits

 

Disability Social Security and the injured worker’s monthly permanent total benefit rate are used to determine both eligibility and the DWRF payment amount.

 

Social security retirement, widow’s benefits and/or any other retirement benefit (ie; PERS, railroad pension) received from an employer are not considered in the DWRF calculation.  Social security disability benefits under a worker’s primary social security number are considered in the DWRF calculation.

 

An injured worker can receive social security retirement prior to age 65 (as early as age 62).  If the injured worker receives early retirement, DWRF benefits are not offset.  The DWRF CSS will enter the retirement date in V3 if the injured worker takes social security retirement benefits.

 

Edit Code 22191 will appear when the social security information on the claim is not complete.  The CSS is to select “no”.  If the CSS selects “yes” and builds the PTD benefits plan, the DWRF Unit will receive a diary notifying them that a new plan has been built and they need to add the DWRF Benefit Plan.  The DWRF Unit will check to see if information is missing.  If the DWRF CSS determines that the injured worker has received social security benefits since the PTD begin date and that the PTD rate will be impacted by the receipt of social security, the DWRF CSS will contact the CSS to have the plan vacated to avoid creating a large overpayment for the injured worker.