Human Resource Blog

Rhode Island Disability (TDI) FAQs

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I’ve heard that in

Rhode Island, pregnant women cannot collect disability. I’ve also heard that you can collect unemployment or workers’ compensation and disability pay at the same time. And, that some people collect TDI permanently. Is any of this true? 

As a matter of fact, all of these rumors are completely false. 

The Rhode Island Temporary Disability Insurance or TDI program provides benefits of up to $652 per week to workers who are temporarily incapacitated due to illness or injury.

Pregnant women who have been certified as medically unable to work by a doctor certainly can collect Rhode Island Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) and do every day. For a normal pregnancy and delivery, many doctors certify their patients as unable to work for 4 weeks prior to the due date, until 6 weeks after the due date. Women with pregnancy complications or who deliver by caesarian section may well be disabled longer.

It’s fraud under state law to collect unemployment or workers’ comp and TDI benefits at the same time. TDI is for people who are medically unable to work due to a non-work-related illness or injury. If the injury or illness is work related, it’s covered under workers’ comp. Unemployment Insurance is paid to workers who are physically able to work, but cannot find jobs.

If a worker becomes disabled while collecting unemployment benefits, he or she should immediately contact the office of employment security, and apply for TDI.

If a worker files for workers’ comp and is denied, he or she may collect TDI benefits. This is true, even if the worker appeals the workers’ comp ruling. If the worker wins the appeal, the employer’s workers’ comp insurance will reimburse TDI for any payments made.  

The maximum benefit for anyone under TDI is 30 weeks. Workers who expect to be disabled for a long period should apply for Social Security disability benefits as soon as possible. Social Security pays benefits to workers who are disabled for 5 months or more. However, it can take up to 6 months for a worker to receive their first benefit check under Social Security.

The Rhode Island TDI program is unique because it does allow disabled workers to “double-dip” in some cases. Employees who are paid salary, sick pay or vacation pay while they are disabled may still collect TDI benefits.