Mandates on Payment Issuances & Notifications
When are Compensation Payments of Awards Made:
An employer, or its insurance carrier, is fully required by law for all workers compensation payments to be paid periodically, promptly and directly to the individual entitled to such awards or payments without an award. It is mandated for the first installment of compensation payment be due on the 14th day after the employer has knowledge of the injury or death. This shall also be the date all future compensation shall be paid henceforth. Thereafter, the Commissioner may determine if such payments may be paid on semimonthly installments or other payment intervals.
Required Payment Notifications to the Commission:
The following are three types of payment notifications in which an employer or carrier is mandated to furnish and provide to the Commission any time a first, final, or suspension of compensation payment is made to the employee and any of the awarded recipients or beneficiary whom compensation is owed.
1 - Notice of First Payment Made:
The employer is required by law to immediately notify the Commissioner upon making the first and final payment respectively. The employer through its insurance carrier is required to submit a notice within 16-days after making a first payment.
2 - Notice of Final Payment Made:
Within 16-days after the final compensation payment is made, the employer (through its insurance carrier) shall furnish and send a notice to the Commissioner. The final notice shall state that a final payment has been made; the total amount of compensation paid; the name of the employee; names of any other individual to whom compensation has been paid; the date of injury or death; and the date up to which compensation has been paid. Final payment also signifies the suspension of payment which also requires a separate notice.
3 - Notice of Payment Suspended:
If the employer (through its insurance carrier) suspended any payment due to final payment been made or for any other reasons, the Commissioner must immediately be given a notice within 16-days after such suspension is made.
How to Submit Payment Notices to the Commission:
For the submission of any of the payment notices before the Commission, the carrier or employer must use and submit FORM LP-72: Notice of First, Suspension, and Final Payment.
Only one notice form will be required if such payment is considered both the first and final payment made to the employee. It is also required for the carrier or employer to mark "suspension" any time a final payment is made to the employee, unless such suspension of payment is due to other valid reasons. When there are more than one beneficiary or award recipient involved, the Commission's Office requires a separate payment notice for each individual.