Table of Contents
Purpose
Payment calculations and procedures
Audits
and affidavits
Termination
of benefits
Contact
information
Purpose
The Rate Adjustment Fund was created in 1975 to pay cost-of-living
increases to individuals who are either permanently and totally
disabled (PTD) or the survivors of fatally-injured workers.
Source:
Illinois Compiled Statutes, Chapter 820, Paragraph 305, Sections
7(a)-(e), 8(b)4.2, 8(e)18, 8(f)-(g)
Payment calculations and procedures
Payments
are made each month, beginning on the second July 15th after a final
decision awarding permanent total disability or death benefits.
A decision is final when there is no further appeal pending.
If
you are eligible for a RAF payment, you need to keep a current address
on file at the Commission. If you move, please download the change
of address form and send to the Commission.
Recipients
are given an amount equal to the percentage increase in the statewide
average weekly wage, as calculated by the Illinois Department of
Employment Security. Payments can be calculated using the RAF
calculation table.
If
you received a final PTD or fatal award more than two years ago
but have yet not received RAF payments, fill out the application
form for PTD or the application
form for fatality, and mail it to:
Michael
Pendola, Assistant General Counsel
Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission
100 W. Randolph St., Suite 8-281
Chicago, IL 60601
RAF checks should be received between the 15th - 31st of each month.
The IWCC processes payment vouchers on the 11th of every month.
The process takes 3-4 business days and another 3-5 days to receive
a check through the mail.
About
half of RAF payments are made through direct deposit, in which payments
are quicker and more secure. If you would like to set up direct
deposit, call the Comptroller’s Office at 217/557-0930. The
Comptroller will send a form to be completed and returned; that
form will then go through bank verification. The entire process
takes two weeks.
You
can check on the Comptroller's
website to see if RAF payments have been issued. (Enter your
Social Security Number.)
Audits
and affidavits
Each
year, we conduct audits to make sure payees remain eligible for
RAF payments. Before July 15th, we send out affidavits to
all payees. Payees must sign the affidavit, get it notarized, and
return it to our office within 15 days of receipt. Click
here for the affidavit for PTD cases. Click
here for the affidavit for fatal cases.
In
addition, we require payees to provide us with a copy of a current
check stub from the employer or its workers' compensation insurance
carrier as proof of continued eligibility for PTD or survivor's
benefits. If the benefit is directly deposited, we will need
a copy of the current notice of direct deposit.
Also,
each month, we run a computer program against national databases
to verify payee living status, and we periodically check payee addresses.
Please
note that we are no longer sending the "Workers' Compensation
Pension Receipt" postcards with the checks.
Termination of RAF payments
Payees
remain eligible for RAF payments as long as they remain eligible
for PTD or survivor's benefits. RAF payments cease when eligibility
for PTD or survivor's benefits cease.
Contact
information
For
payment questions: |
|
Ami
Gilkes |
Fiscal
Staff |
312/814-8140 |
|
Inez
Gardner |
Fiscal
Staff |
312/814-1446 |
|
Comptroller’s
Office |
Records
Information Office |
217/782-7568 |
For
eligibility questions: |
|
Michael
Pendola |
Assistant
General Counsel |
312/814-8770 |
|