ARM 24.29.1201. APPROVAL – WHEN REQUIRED

(1) No department approval is required for a lump-sum payment of: (a) accrued indemnity benefits; (b) advance indemnity benefits; or (c) an impairment award for a claim with a date of injury on or after July 1, 2005. (2) The department presumes that biweekly benefit payments are in the best interests of the worker. Department approval of a petition for lump-sum conversion may be given only if the worker demonstrates that the worker's ability to become financially self-sustaining is more probable with a whole or partial lump-sum payment than with the biweekly payments and the worker's other resources, as outlined by ARM 24.29.1202. (3) Conversion of biweekly permanent total disability benefits to a lump sum must meet the test of this rule for all dates of injury.