Disability bill introduced by Indian-American N.J. lawmaker, others, becomes law

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Legislation sponsored by New Jersey State Assembly Democrats Raj Mukherji, Shavonda Sumter, Eliana Pintor Marin and Benjie Wimberly to establish a partial return to work program for residents receiving temporary disability insurance was signed into law (A-1980) June 17.

“The law’s intent is to allow workers to transition back to work by initially working on a part- time basis, and to provide cost savings by reducing benefit costs during those transitions,” Mukherji (D-Hudson), the only Indian-American lawmaker in the lower house, is quoted saying in the press release.

“A similar program was implemented in Rhode Island in 2007 and has been reported to have seen savings every year in operation,” Mukherji noted.

Prior to the legislation, the temporary disability insurance (TDI) law provided for benefits only during the time that the worker was completely unable to work due to the disability.

The law mandates that the part-time TDI benefit is the full-time TDI benefit amount minus the wages paid to the worker during a week.

The new law, A-1980, permits the payment of TDI benefits on a reduced basis to temporarily disabled workers who are otherwise eligible for TDI benefits but only able to return to work on a part-time basis while recovering from a disability.

In addition, the law permits such partial benefits only after a worker has been completely unable to work due to a disability and receiving full TDI benefits for at least seven days.