This text of Maine § 39-A §221 (Coordination of benefits) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Maine primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
1.Application.
This section applies when either weekly or lump sum payments are made to an employee as a result of liability pursuant to section 212 or 213 with respect to the same time period for which the employee is also receiving or has received payments for:
2.Definitions.
As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings.
3.Coordination of benefits.
Benefit payments subject to this section must be reduced in accordance with the following provisions.
4.Notification and release of social security benefit information.
The board shall adopt rules to provide for notification by an employer to an employee of possible eligibility for social security benefits and the requirements for establishing proof of application for those benefits. Notification must be promptl
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1.
Application.
This section applies when either weekly or lump sum payments are made to an employee as a result of liability pursuant to section 212 or 213 with respect to the same time period for which the employee is also receiving or has received payments for:
2.
Definitions.
As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings.
3.
Coordination of benefits.
Benefit payments subject to this section must be reduced in accordance with the following provisions.
4.
Notification and release of social security benefit information.
The board shall adopt rules to provide for notification by an employer to an employee of possible eligibility for social security benefits and the requirements for establishing proof of application for those benefits. Notification must be promptly mailed to the employee after the date on which by reason of age the employee may be entitled to social security benefits. A copy of the notification of possible eligibility must be filed with the board by the employer. Within 30 days after receipt of the notification of possible employee eligibility the employee shall:
5.
Release of benefit information.
Within 30 days after either the date of first payment of compensation benefits under section 212 or 213 or 30 days after the date of application for any benefit under subsection 3, paragraph A, subparagraph (2), (3), (4) or (5), whichever is later, the employee shall provide the employer with a properly executed authority for release of information which may be used by the employer to obtain necessary benefit entitlement and amount information from the appropriate source. The authority for release of information is effective for one year.
6.
New authority for release of information.
If the employer is required to submit a new authority for release of information under subsection 4 or 5 in order to receive information necessary to comply with this section, the employee shall provide the new authority for release of information within 30 days of a request by the employer or insurance carrier.
7.
Failure to provide release or application.
If the employee fails to provide the proof of application or the authority for release of information required in subsection 4 or fails to provide the authority for release of information required in subsection 5 or 6, the employer may, with the approval of the board, discontinue the compensation benefits payable to the employee under section 212 or 213 until the proof of application and the authority for release of information is provided. Compensation benefits withheld must be reimbursed to the employee when the required proof of application, or the authority for release of information, or both, has been provided.
8.
Early retirement.
Nothing in this section may be considered to compel an employee to apply for early federal social security old-age insurance benefits or to apply for early or reduced pension or retirement benefits.
9.
Reports.
The employer taking a credit or making a reduction as provided in this section shall immediately report to the board the amount of any credit or reduction and, as requested by the board, furnish to the board satisfactory proof of the basis for a credit reduction.
10.
Exceptions for certain disability payments.
This section does not apply to any payments received or to be received under a disability insurance plan provided by the same employer if that plan is in existence on December 31, 1992. Any disability insurance plan entered into or renewed on or after January 1, 1993 may provide that the payments under that plan provided by the employer may not be coordinated pursuant to this section. With respect to volunteer firefighter and volunteer emergency medical services persons who are considered employees for purposes of this Act pursuant to section 102, the reduction of weekly benefits provided for disability insurance payments under subsection 3, paragraph A, subparagraphs (2) and (3) and subsection 3, paragraph D may be waived by the employer. An employer that is not a self-insurer may make the waiver provided for under this subsection only at the time a workers' compensation insurance policy is entered into or renewed.