Departments of Labor, Health Preventing Deceased Claimants from Collecting Benefits

 Departments of Labor, Health Preventing Deceased Claimants from Collecting Benefits

JEFFERSON CITY, MO – The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DOLIR) and the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) have bolstered their efforts to prevent compensation payments from going to deceased Missourian claimants.

This first-ever agreement between the two departments allows DOLIR’s Division of Workers’ Compensation to check their record of payments from the Second Injury Fund (SIF) for payment of compensation and benefits to claimants, including weekly permanent total disability (PTD) benefits. The SIF compensates injured employees when a current work-related injury combines with a prior disability to create an increased combined disability.

The agreement allows DHSS to match data of vital statistics to DOLIR for residents whose deaths occurred in Missouri. The Division of Workers’ Compensation can then use the data to verify eligibility of those receiving SIF compensation and benefits.

“In previous administrations, our departments had not been sharing information which delayed in the identification of deceased claimants,” said Todd Smith, DOLIR Director. “With this partnership we are being proactive in our efforts to ensure even greater accuracy.”

In February, the departments found their first match against the data. The match resulted in the identification of one deceased person receiving benefits, which was quickly addressed. The departments will routinely run this data, providing better efficiency and accuracy in state government.

For more information regarding the Division of Workers’ Compensation, visit http://www.dolir.mo.gov/wc/index.asp.

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