Payment Of Benefits

(1) Disability and medical benefits are deemed paid when the correct payments have been addressed to the last known address of the proper recipient and deposited in the U.S. Mail or when funds are transferred to a financial institution for deposit in the proper recipient’s account by approved electronic equivalent. (2) All temporary total disability benefits shall be issued accurately and timely to assure the injured Employee receives the benefits on or before the date they are due. To help ensure accuracy, Adjusters shall verify the average weekly wage of the Employee with the Employer consistent with the Bureau’s requirements and the requirements of the Workers’ Compensation Law. A Wage Statement, available on the Bureau’s website, shall be filed with the Bureau upon request pursuant to Rule 0800-02-21. (a) To be considered timely, initial temporary total disability payments must be paid to the Employee no later than fifteen (15) calendar days after the date the disability begins and every subsequent payment is made within consecutive fifteen (15) calendar day increments, until all temporary total benefits have been paid. Each payment must indicate the time period covered by the payment. (b) All temporary partial disability benefits shall be issued timely, as per T.C.A § 50-6-207. (3) Funeral expenses, including burial or cremation expenses, must be paid within a reasonable period of time, not to exceed thirty (30) days from the date of submission of invoice. (4) All disability and death benefits shall be paid by check or direct deposit unless prior written permission for an alternative means of payment is given by the Administrator and the Employee or Employee’s dependents have signed a written agreement allowing an alternative means.