This program provides individuals up to six weeks of paid benefits during a 12-month period to care for a seriously ill loved one.
The Rhode Island Temporary Caregiver Insurance program offers temporary financial assistance and job protection, allowing you to prioritize your loved one's well-being during their illness without sacrificing your livelihood. Imagine peace of mind knowing you can focus solely on caregiving, creating precious memories, and ensuring a smooth return to work when needed.
Overview of Temporary Caregiver Insurance (TCI)
Rhode Island's TCI program is a paid leave program. This program helps eligible individuals to take time off work. A family caregiver can take significant time off from their job to watch ill care recipients or bond with a new family addition. This program is a great help for people needing to care for their loved ones.
Objectives of Temporary Caregiver Insurance
- Provide financial support if you have to leave work long-term to tend to a seriously ill child, spouse, domestic partner, parent, parent-in-law, or grandparent.
- Enable individuals to bond with a newborn, adopted, or foster child without sacrificing income.
- Protect the job and seniority of employees while they are on leave to care for their loved ones.
- Alleviate the financial burden on families during times of caregiving responsibilities.
Eligibility for Temporary Caregiver Insurance
Individuals must meet specific residency, employment, and family relationship criteria to be eligible for the Temporary Caregiver Insurance program.
Age and residency requirements
- Be a legal resident of Rhode Island.
- There is no age requirement for the caregiver
- The care recipient must be a qualifying relative (child, spouse, domestic partner, parent, parent-in-law, or grandparent)
Health and disability requirements
- The care recipient must have a severe medical condition that requires care
- A physician documents the medical condition
Benefits offered under Temporary Caregiver Insurance
The Temporary Caregiver Insurance program provides up to 6 weeks of financial wage support for eligible caregivers during 12 months. In 2023, participants received up to $1,007 weekly to replace their current employment wages or salary.
The monetary amount is estimated based on the individual's highest quarter (3 months) of earnings during the previous year, multiplied by 4.62%. The minimum weekly benefit amount is $121. Applicants with children under 18 may be eligible to receive a higher amount.
These are the benefits covered by RI Temporary Caregiver Insurance:
- Up to 6 weeks of partial wage replacement benefits during 12 months.
- Job protection and maintenance of seniority while on leave.
- Chance to take leave to care for a very sick family member or bond with a new child (biological, adopted, or foster).
- Financial support to help offset the loss of income during the leave period.
Applying for Temporary Caregiver Insurance
The process for applying for TCI is straightforward. Keep track of the application deadlines. Provide all the required documentation. Please meet these requirements to avoid a delay or denial of caregiving benefits. Follow these five steps:
- Contact your work in writing at least 30 days before your planned leave start date or as soon as possible in case of unforeseeable circumstances.
- Obtain medical documentation from a physician confirming your family member requires care.
- Apply online at the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (DLT) website or submit a paper application.
- Provide proof of the parent/child relationship if applying for bonding with a child new to the home.
- Submit any additional documentation the DLT requests to verify your eligibility.
Documents needed to apply for Temporary Caregiver Insurance
When applying for the Temporary Caregiver Insurance program, you may need to provide the following documents:
- Proof of residency in Rhode Island (e.g., driver's license, utility bills)
- Proof of employment and earnings (e.g., pay stubs, W-2 forms)
- Medical documentation from a physician confirming the family member's serious medical condition
- Proof of the family relationship (e.g., birth certificates, marriage certificates)
Where do I submit the documents?
All required documents should be submitted to the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (DLT) online or by mail, depending on your chosen application method. The DLT will provide specific instructions on submitting the necessary documentation during the application process.
