With few exceptions, all employers are required to participate in the state program. TDI and TCI do not allow employers to opt out of the state program. Private and self-funded plans are not an option.
Key Dates
- January: The annual TDI and TCI employee rate is announced along with the Taxable Wage cap.
- July: The annual TDI and TCI benefit adjustment is announced and becomes effective.
Tools and Resources
RI provides resources to help employers.
The Hartford is providing this information as a resource and does not control the content of third-party websites.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s Covered Under the State Programs?
- Welcome a new child (through birth, adoption, or foster placement) under TCI.
- Care for a seriously ill family member for TCI.
- TDI covers employee Paid Leave for a worker’s own injury or illness not related to their job.
What Are the State Plan Benefits?
- A maximum of 30 total weeks under TDI.*
- A maximum of four weeks of benefits under TCI – which will reduce TDI.*
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Starting January 1, 2023, the maximum benefit increased to six weeks.
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Effective July 1, 2023, $1,043/week is the maximum benefit rate and the minimum benefit rate is $107.00/week.
- Weekly benefit is 4.62% the employee was paid in the highest quarter of their Base Period – the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before the starting date of their new claim.
- There is a dependency allowance limited to five dependents. The allowance is equal to the greater of $10 or 7% of the benefit rate. The maximum with dependents is $1,408/week with five dependents.
* No more than 30 weeks combined in a 52-week period under TDI/TCI
How Is the State Program Funded?
- TDI and TCI are financed entirely by payroll deductions.
- Effective 1/1/24, employees are taxed at 1.2 percent of their pay up to $87,000.
What Are the State Plan’s Eligibility Requirements?
To be eligible for TDI and TCI benefits, employees must have earned wages in Rhode Island and paid into the TDI/TCI fund for a year or more. For claims filed in 2023, employees must have been paid at least $15,600 in the Base Period for the claim or at least $2,600 in one of the base period quarters and a total base period of at least $5,200.
The Base Period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before the start of a claim. The last four completed calendar quarters before the starting date of a claim may also be used as an Alternative Base if an employee is not eligible using Base Period earnings.
Workers aged 14 and 15 are exempt from wage deductions and coverage.
Do All Employers Need to Participate?
Exceptions include federal, state, and some municipal employers as well as partners and non-incorporated self-employed workers.
Out-of-state companies with employees working in RI must contact the RI Division of Taxation, Employer Tax Unit at 1-401-574-8700 to register.
Is There a Private Plan Option?
TDI and TCI do not allow employers to opt out of the state program. Private and self-funded plans are not an option. Private Disability insurance can complement TDI to fill gaps in pay and leave duration.
Is The Hartford Offering RI TCI and RI TDI?
Rhode Island requires all covered employers to participate in the TCI and TDI programs. As such, The Hartford can’t offer fully insured or ASO coverage for these programs. Employers can use private Disability insurance to complement TDI to fill gaps in pay and Leave durations.
Please reach out to your employee benefits representative at The Hartford for additional information.
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This informational material is subject to change as The Hartford continues to receive guidance from states and municipalities. It shall not be considered legal advice. The Hartford assumes no responsibility for legal compliance with respect to an employer’s business practices, and the views and recommendations contained herein shall not constitute The Hartford’s undertaking on a company’s behalf, or for the benefit of others, to determine or warrant that an employer’s business operations are in compliance with any law, rule, or regulation. Employers seeking resolution of specific legal or business issues, questions, or concerns regarding this topic should consult their own attorney or business advisors; and employees should continue to consult their employers’ Human Resources or other employment benefits department for guidance on the application of any law, rule, or regulation.
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., (NYSE: HIG) operates through its subsidiaries, including underwriting companies Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company and Hartford Fire Insurance Company, under the brand name, The Hartford,® and is headquartered at One Hartford Plaza, Hartford, CT 06155. For additional details, please read The Hartford’s legal notice at www.thehartford.com.