State News : Texas

NWCDN is a network of law firms dedicated to protecting employers in workers’ compensation claims.


NWCDN Members regularly post articles and summary judgements in workers’ compensations law in your state.  


Select a state from the dropdown menu below to scroll through the state specific archives for updates and opinions on various workers’ compensation laws in your state.


Contact information for NWCDN members is also located on the state specific links in the event you have additional questions or your company is seeking a workers’ compensation lawyer in your state.


Texas

STONE LOUGHLIN & SWANSON, LLP

  512-343-1385

As expected, Commissioner Brannan also adopted new Division Rule 131.1 regarding initiation or denial of Lifetime Income Benefits.  Under the new rule, an insurance carrier must review an injured worker’s eligibility for LIBs in a timely manner and review all statutory criteria.  Carriers will have to develop criteria to narrow down which claims may have LIBs exposure. If the insurance carrier believes the injured worker is entitled to LIBs, it shall initiate payment within 15 days even if the claimant has not requested LIBs.  But in the case where an injured worker requests LIBs in writing, the carrier has 60 days to determine eligibility.  Any denial must be on form PLN-4.

A new PLN-4, Notice Regarding Eligibility for Lifetime Income Benefits, has been finalized. The revisions were made to ensure that the injured worker and the Division had a complete explanation as to why the insurance carrier is denying LIBs.  The revised form adds a checkbox to clearly show that eligibility for LIBs is denied followed by a space for a full and complete statement.