Temporary Disability (TDI) FAQ

For Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI): If you become ill or injured, and an examination by a Qualified Healthcare Provider (QHP) indicates that you cannot work for at least 7 consecutive days, you should file a claim as soon as possible to avoid jeopardizing or delaying your first payment. Claims must be filed within 90 days of the 1st week out of work due to illness.

For Temporary Caregiver Insurance (TCI): If you need to be out of work to care for a seriously ill child, parent, spouse, domestic partner, parent-in-law, or grandparent or bond with a newborn child, adopted child, or foster-care child (available during the first 12 months of parenting only), you must apply for TCI benefits during the first 30 days after the first day leave is taken.

• If you are currently receiving TDI benefits, you must first be released from your doctor as “fully recuperated” before submitting your application for a TCI claim for bonding or caregiving benefits.

File a claim securely online here: https://dltweb.dlt.ri.gov/TDIReserve/ 

Note: A TDI/TCI claim cannot be entered into the system until you are unemployed due to an illness/injury or caregiver/bonding. If you file a claim ahead of time, the claim will be sent back to you (paper application) or canceled (Internet application).

To be monetarily eligible for TDI/TCI, you must have earned enough wages in the base period, as explained on your Benefit Computation Statement, and must have had enough of your wages deducted into the TDI/TCI fund. 

• To be medically eligible for TDI benefits, a Qualified Healthcare Provider (QHP) must certify that you are functionally unable to perform your customary and regular work duties.
• To be medically eligible for TCI benefits, you are responsible for obtaining the medical documentation necessary for caregiver claims, and for bonding claims, you are responsible for providing proof of child/parenting relationship.

Definitions: 

• The base period is the period of time used to determine if you have sufficient wages to be eligible. The base period is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before the starting date of your new claim. The calendar quarters are:
  • Jan 1-March 31.
  • April 1-June 30.
  • July 1-Sept 30; and
  • Oct 1-Dec 31. 

Once a quarter's wages are used to establish a claim, they cannot be used again on a later claim.

• If you are not eligible using your base period earnings, we will recompute your claim using an alternate base period. The alternate base period is the last four completed calendar quarters before the starting date of your claim. While you must still meet the same earnings requirements, this allows some of your more recent wages to be used.

To be eligible for TDI/TCI benefits, you must have earned wages in Rhode Island and paid into the TDI/TCI fund. For claims filed effective 1/1/25 or later, you must have been paid at least $18,000 in the Base Period for the claim. If you did not earn this amount, you MAY be eligible if you meet ALL of the following conditions:

• You earned at least $3,000 in one of your base period quarters.
• Your total base period taxable wages are at least one and one-half times your highest quarter of earnings.

Your base period taxable wages equal at least $6,000.

For Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI): The duration of your claim is equal to 36% of your total base period wages divided by your weekly benefit rate (not including dependent's allowance. The most you are allowed to collect is an amount equal to 30 full weeks. These weeks can be claimed any time you are medically certified as functionally unable to perform your work duties during your benefit year, and you are out of work for a minimum of 7 consecutive days.

For Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI): The duration of your claim is equal to 36% of your total base period wages divided by your weekly benefit rate (not including dependent's allowance. The most you are allowed to collect is an amount equal to 30 full weeks. These weeks can be claimed any time you are medically certified as functionally unable to perform your work duties during your benefit year, and you are out of work for a minimum of 7 consecutive days.

• You should file for Social Security disability if your condition is expected to last for a year or more. You don't have to wait until your TDI payments end to apply for Social Security disability. The application process can take up to 6 months, so filing an application early is important. Social Security can start paying disability benefits after you have been disabled for 5 full months. Visit www.socialsecurity.gov for more information or contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or call your local Social Security office.

For Temporary Caregiver Insurance (TCI): You may receive up to a maximum of 7 weeks of benefits (which will reduce the max. weeks of TDI) during a Benefit Year Period. Your claim is processed based on the number of weeks and dates requested on your initial application. If you have not reached the maximum allowance of 7 weeks (within the same claim year), you may file another claim as long as you are out of work for at least seven (7) consecutive days after the original claim ended.

For Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI): A medical certification form will be mailed to you when your application is submitted. It is your responsibility to deliver the form to your treating Qualified Healthcare Provider (QHP).

• Note: It is no longer necessary for you to notify TDI when a new doctor begins treating you while you have an active TDI claim. When you receive your next medical certification form, clearly print the name and address of the new healthcare provider as instructed and take it to their office for completion.

For Temporary Caregiver Insurance (TCI): For caregiver claims, you are responsible for obtaining the necessary medical documentation for the family member you will be caring for during your claim. For bonding claims: you are responsible for providing proof of a child/parenting relationship.

Your new claim begins on the Sunday of the week in which you became unable to work. The Benefit Year is a 52-week period that begins on the Sunday of the week in which your unable-to-work date occurs. Claims that meet all other eligibility criteria are provided benefit payments as of the first day of unemployment due to the illness/injury or due to caregiver/bonding. 

Any additional claims (refiles) you submit during this period will have the same benefit year.

TDI Claims: If your healthcare provider determines you are unable to work due to medical complications as a result of your pregnancy, it is recommended that you file for TDI.

• Note: TDI is not for maternity leave; TDI provides benefit payments only when you are certified as functionally unable to perform your customary and regular work duties by your healthcare provider.

TCI Claims: If you are recuperating from delivering a baby, you can file a TCI claim requesting benefits to bond with a newborn child.

Under most circumstances, you cannot collect TDI if you are attending classes, engaged in clinical rotations, student teaching, etc. However, you may qualify if your work (in terms of specific disability) is materially different from your course of study. 

For example, a manual laborer with a broken leg may be able to do classroom work but not his regular job.

For TDI Claims: If your healthcare provider tells you that you can return to work part-time and your employer has work available for you, you may be eligible to collect partial TDI payments.

For TCI Claims: No, the Partial Return to Work Program (PRTW) (28-41-5d) is not for Bonding and Caregiving claims. The PRTW Program exists to facilitate the transition for an individual to return to their normal working hours while continuing their recuperation; therefore, does not apply to the TCI Program.

You cannot receive TDI or TCI benefits for any period that you receive Workers' Compensation (WC). If you were injured on the job, you must file a claim for WC. If you have filed for WC and the claim is being contested, you may be eligible for TDI pending settlement of the WC claim. 

If you later receive WC for any weeks that TDI has been paid, you must notify us immediately so that any adjustments can be made.

If you continue to be paid a salary, sick or vacation pay, or receive benefits from an additional disability insurance policy while you are totally unable to work due to illness or non-work-related injury, caregiver, or bonding, you are allowed to receive TDI and TCI. However, you must not be performing any services for the company. 

If you are recuperating and transitioning into your regular work schedule but working reduced hours and in “Partial Return to Work” claim status, all earnings such as salary, sick, short-term disability payments, vacation, bonus, commission, etc. must be considered.

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. For claims with a Benefit Year beginning date of 1/1/25 or later, $1,070.00 is the maximum benefit rate, and the minimum benefit rate is $139. This does not include a dependency allowance.

If you have dependent children less than 18 years of age, you may be entitled to a dependency allowance. Incapacitated children over 18 may also be counted toward the dependency allowance. The dependency allowance is limited to 5 dependents and is equal to the greater of $20 or 7% of your benefit rate. Your dependency allowance is determined at the start of your benefit year and remains the same for the entire period.

Payments are made through Direct Deposit or Electronic Payment Cards. 

The Department no longer issues checks. 

Benefits are usually deposited within 48-72 hours of approval by the Department. Approval is based on monetary eligibility and medical certification from your Healthcare Provider. Always check your balance before using the EPC card. 

Conduct balance inquiries easily and free of charge online at mbd.everywherepaycard.com, OR call Money Network Customer Service, OR check your account balance at free in-network ATMs nationwide that carry the AllPoint or MoneyPass brands. To find surcharge-free in-network ATMs, use the ATM locator found at mbd.everywherepaycard.com or in the Money Network Mobile App.

If you become unable to work, return to work, or recuperate in the middle of a week, you may be paid a lag payment. The lag payment would be 1/5 of your benefit rate for each workday you normally work.

For TDI claims: No, TDI benefits paid to you are not subject to Federal or State income taxes. TDI withholdings from your earnings are deductible for Federal income tax reporting purposes.

For TCI claims: Yes, TCI benefits paid to you are subject to Federal and State income taxes. You will receive a General Form (G-1099) at the end of the year indicating the amount you received in benefits, which will also be reported to the IRS.

You have the right to appeal any decision with which you do not agree by submitting a request in writing to the TDI/TCI Appeals Coordinator at PO Box 20100, Cranston, RI 02920-0941 or by FAX at (401) 462-8466. Your case will be assigned to a Referee (Hearing Officer) at the Board of Review [Link], who will schedule a hearing, at which time you may state your argument in detail.

You may bring witnesses or someone to represent you. You should bring any documents or other evidence that will support your claim. 

Note: The Board operates independently of the Department of Labor and Training.

More information on the process can be found on our Appeals Process page. 

There are several ways to report your return to work/recovery date. 

1. Call (401) 462-8700 - no waiting required.
   • Follow the instructions and enter the claim number and PIN; the first question will ask for your return to work or recuperation date.
2. Complete and mail the “Return to Work” form sent to you with your PIN Letter.
3. Mail TDI a letter or note with your information and your return to work or recuperation date.
4. Contact TDI’s Customer Service Unit at (401) 462-8420 or email DLT.TDI@dlt.ri.gov with your return-to-work information.

You only need to complete one of these steps. 

File for unemployment insurance online [Link] or by telephone at (401) 415-6772. 

You should also visit a DLT Career Center for help finding work, enrolling in job training, and receiving job counseling.

Visit our Jobseeker resources page for more information.