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Home> Workers' Comp> What Are The Benefits of Workers' Compensation In Texas? > Income benefits > Impairment Income Benefits
What Are Supplemental Income Benefits (SIBs) For Workers' Compensation Claims in Texas?
Supplemental Income Benefits (SIBs) are income benefits that you apply for quarterly (4 times per year, or every 3 months) and are paid monthly to injured workers.
If you are an injured worker, you may be entitled to SIBs if you meet the following entitlement requirements:
- you have an impairment rating of 15 percent or more
- you have not returned to work because of your impairment
- you have returned to work but are earning less than 80 percent of the average weekly wage because of the impairment
- you have made a good faith effort to find a job that matches your abilities to work
- you did not take your impairment income benefits in a lump sum payment.
Amount of Supplemental Income Benefits
Supplemental Income Benefits equal 80 percent of the difference between 80 percent of your average weekly wage (earned prior to your work-related injury) and your weekly wages (if you have any earnings or offered wages during this 13 week period) after the work-related injury.
If you earn any wages during the qualifying period, the wages are deducted when calculating your SIB rate.
When Do Supplemental Income Benefits Begin and End?
If you are eligible, Supplemental Income Benefits will begin the day after your Impairment Income Benefits end. The Division will automatically notify you if your impairment rating is 15 percent or greater and inform you of what information is necessary to support your application for the 1st quarter of SIBs. T
he application for the 1st quarter of SIBs is sent to the Division. The information to support your entitlement to the first quarter of SIBs is based on your job search efforts (if able) and wages earned during the 13 weeks before the end of your IIBs period.
This 13 week period is called the qualifying period.
How Do I Qualify For SIB?
The Division will make a determination of entitlement based on the information on
your application. The Division will review your job search efforts during the qualifying
period, any possible job offers, current medical documentation
provided by your doctor supporting why you are unable to work (if applicable), and
will look at whether your inability to earn your pre-injury wage is a direct result
of your impairment.
The carrier will provide you with an application for future quarters of SIBs with
the first payment of any quarter or with any notice of non-entitlement. You must
send all other SIBs applications to the insurance carrier showing that you
are eligible to receive SIBS. If the insurance carrier agrees you are eligible,
you will receive benefits for the quarter.
Each time you file an application with the carrier, you must:
- you looked for work each week of the qualifying period
- you have current medical documentation from your doctor that explains clearly why
your work-related injury or illness prevented you from working or
looking for work during that 13 week timeframe - your cooperation with the Texas Department of Assistive & Rehabilitative Services, or a private provider of vocational rehabilitation.
Your entitlement to receive supplemental income benefits ends at 401 weeks (approximately
7 ½ years) from the date of your injury. If you have an occupational illness, entitlement
for supplement income benefits ends at 401
weeks from the date you first became eligible to receive income benefits.