4123-3-37 Lump sum advancements.

 

 

 

4123-3-37                    Lump sum advancements.

 

 

 

(A)   The administrator of the bureau of workers' compensation may commute an award of compensation to a lump sum payment when the administrator determines that the advancement is advisable for the purpose of providing the injured worker financial relief or for furthering the injured worker's rehabilitation.

 

(1)    The administrator may only grant a lump sum payment to an injured worker from an award of compensation made pursuant to section 4123.58 of the Revised Code or from division (B) of section 4123.57 of the Revised Code.

 

(2)   The administrator may grant a lump sum payment to a surviving spouse from awards of compensation made pursuant to sections 4123.59 of the Revised Code. However, the advancement shall not exceed the amount of death benefits payable to the surviving spouse over a two-year period.

 

(3)   The industrial commission has exclusive jurisdiction over an application for a lump sum advancement for the payment of attorney fees incurred in the securing an award. The bureau shall refer such applications to the industrial commission to adjudicate.

 

(B)   An injured worker shall file an application requesting a lump sum advancement with the bureau.

 

(1)  The application shall be fully completed and notarized.

 

(2)   The administrator shall review the application and utilize whatever methods the administrator determines to be appropriate, consistent with general insurance principles, to evaluate the claim for a lump sum payment.

 

(3)   If the administrator determines that the lump sum application is advisable, the administrator shall determine the amount of the biweekly rate reduction and the terms of such reduction. The administrator shall fix a specific time for the reduction of the biweekly rate of compensation to repay the lump sum advancement. The administrator may include interest in the repayment schedule.

 

(4)      The administrator shall issue an order approving or disapproving the application. If the application is approved, the order shall advise the injured worker of the amount of reduction of compensation and the terms of the lump sum advancement.

 

(C)  Maximum rate reduction in compensation.

 

 

(1)   No lump sum advancement shall be approved that will result in a rate reduction of more than one-third of the biweekly rate of compensation, except where the payment is for attorney's fees in accordance with section 4123.06 of the Revised Code.

(2)    The administrator may approve more than one lump sum advancement in a claim, but shall not permit more than two concurrent lump sum advancements.

(3)   Upon the repayment of the lump sum advancement in accordance with the terms of the order and agreement, the administrator shall remove the rate reduction due to the lump sum advancement and reinstate the injured worker's rate of compensation.

(D)    The lump sum advancement warrant shall include the claimant or the surviving spouse as a payee, except where the check is for the payment of attorney's fees in accordance with section 4123.06 of the Revised Code, in which case the attorney shall be named as the only payee on the check.

Effective:                                                     07/11/2013

R.C. 119.032 review dates:                         11/01/2013

CERTIFIED ELECTRONICALLY

Certification

07/01/2013

Date

Promulgated Under:                           119.03

Statutory Authority:                           4121.12, 4121.121, 4121.30, 4121.31, 4123.05

Rule Amplifies:                                  4123.57, 4123.64, 4123.65

Prior Effective Dates:                         12/1/04, 10/12/10