Sec. 16. (a) Compensation shall be allowed on account of disablement from occupational disease resulting in only temporary total disability to work or temporary partial disability to work beginning with the eighth day of such disability except for the medical benefits provided for in section 17 of this chapter. Compensation shall be allowed for the first seven (7) calendar days only as provided in this section. The first weekly installment of compensation for temporary disability is due fourteen (14) days after the disability begins. Not later than fourteen (14) days from the date that the first installment of compensation is due, the employer or the employer’s insurance carrier shall file a report of payment of compensation with the worker’s compensation board electronically and tender to the employee or to the employee’s dependents, with all compensation due, a properly prepared compensation agreement in a form prescribed by the board. The presentation to the employee or to the employee’s dependents of the check, draft, or electronic payment from the employer or the employer’s insurance carrier for the proper amount, drawn upon a bank in which money is on deposit to pay the same on demand, shall be sufficient tender of the compensation.

     (b) Whenever an employer or the employer’s insurance carrier denies or is not able to determine liability to pay compensation or benefits, the employer or the employer’s insurance carrier shall notify the worker’s compensation board and the employee in writing on a form prescribed by the worker’s compensation board not later than thirty (30) days after the employer’s knowledge of the claimed disablement. If a determination of liability cannot be made within thirty (30) days, the worker’s compensation board may approve an additional thirty (30) days upon a written request of the employer or the employer’s insurance carrier that sets forth the reasons that the determination could not be made within thirty (30) days and states the facts or circumstances that are necessary to determine liability within the additional thirty (30) days. More than thirty (30) days of additional time may be approved by the worker’s compensation board upon the filing of a petition by the employer or the employer’s insurance carrier that sets forth:

(1) the extraordinary circumstances that have precluded a determination of liability within the initial sixty (60) days;

(2) the status of the investigation on the date the petition is filed;

(3) the facts or circumstances that are necessary to make a determination; and

(4) a timetable for the completion of the remaining investigation.

An employer who fails to comply with this section is subject to a civil penalty under IC 22-3-4-15.

     (c) Once begun, temporary total disability benefits may not be terminated by the employer unless:

(1) the employee has returned to work;

(2) the employee has died;

(3) the employee has refused to undergo a medical examination under section 20 of this chapter;

(4) the employee has received five hundred (500) weeks of temporary total disability benefits or has been paid the maximum compensation allowable under section 19 of this chapter; or

(5) the employee is unable or unavailable to work for reasons unrelated to the compensable disease.

In each instance, the employer must provide written notice to the injured worker on a form approved by the board. In all other cases the employer must notify the employee in writing of the employer’s intent to terminate the payment of temporary total disability benefits, and of the availability of employment, if any, on a form approved by the board. In all instances, the employer must file an electronic notice of the termination with the board.

     (d) If the employee disagrees with the termination or proposed termination, the employee must give written notice of disagreement to the board and the employer within seven (7) days after receipt of the notice of intent to terminate benefits. If the board and employer do not receive a notice of disagreement under this section, the employee’s temporary total disability benefits shall be terminated. Upon receipt of the notice of disagreement, the board shall immediately contact the parties, which may be by telephone or other means and attempt to resolve the disagreement. If the board is unable to resolve the disagreement within ten (10) days of receipt of the notice of disagreement, the board shall immediately arrange for an evaluation of the employee by an independent medical examiner. The independent medical examiner shall be selected by mutual agreement of the parties or, if the parties are unable to agree, appointed by the board under IC 22-3-4-11. If the independent medical examiner determines that the employee is no longer temporarily disabled or is still temporarily disabled but can return to employment that the employer has made available to the employee, or if the employee fails or refuses to appear for examination by the independent medical examiner, temporary total disability benefits may be terminated. If either party disagrees with the opinion of the independent medical examiner, the party shall apply to the board for a hearing under section 27 of this chapter.

     (e) An employer is not required to continue the payment of temporary total disability benefits for more than fourteen (14) days after the employer’s proposed termination date unless the independent medical examiner determines that the employee is temporarily disabled and unable to return to any employment that the employer has made available to the employee.

     (f) If it is determined that as a result of this section temporary total disability benefits were overpaid, the overpayment shall be deducted from any benefits due the employee under this section and, if there are no benefits due the employee or the benefits due the employee do not equal the amount of the overpayment, the employee shall be responsible for paying any overpayment which cannot be deducted from benefits due the employee.

     (g) For disablements occurring on and after July 1, 1976, from occupational disease resulting in temporary total disability for any work there shall be paid to the disabled employee during the temporary total disability weekly compensation equal to sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the employee’s average weekly wages, as defined in section 19 of this chapter, for a period not to exceed five hundred (500) weeks. Compensation shall be allowed for the first seven (7) calendar days only if the disability continues for longer than twenty-one (21) days.

     (h) For disablements occurring on and after July 1, 1974, from occupational disease resulting in temporary partial disability for work there shall be paid to the disabled employee during such disability a weekly compensation equal to sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the difference between the employee’s average weekly wages, as defined in section 19 of this chapter, and the weekly wages at which the employee is actually employed after the disablement, for a period not to exceed three hundred (300) weeks. Compensation shall be allowed for the first seven (7) calendar days only if the disability continues for longer than twenty-one (21) days. In case of partial disability after the period of temporary total disability, the latter period shall be included as a part of the maximum period allowed for partial disability.

     (i) With respect to disablements in the following schedule occurring on and after July 1, 1991, the employee shall receive in addition to temporary total disability benefits, not exceeding one hundred twenty-five (125) weeks on account of the disablement, compensation in an amount determined under the following schedule to be paid weekly at a rate of sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the employee’s average weekly wages during the fifty-two (52) weeks immediately preceding the week in which the disablement occurred:

(1) Amputation: For the loss by separation of the thumb, twelve (12) degrees of permanent impairment; of the index finger, eight (8) degrees of permanent impairment; of the second finger, seven (7) degrees of permanent impairment; of the third or ring finger, six (6) degrees of permanent impairment; of the fourth or little finger, four (4) degrees of permanent impairment; of the hand by separation below the elbow joint, forty (40) degrees of permanent impairment; of the arm above the elbow, fifty (50) degrees of permanent impairment; of the big toe, twelve (12) degrees of permanent impairment; of the second toe, six (6) degrees of permanent impairment; of the third toe, four (4) degrees of permanent impairment; of the fourth toe, three (3) degrees of permanent impairment; of the fifth or little toe, two (2) degrees of permanent impairment; of separation of the foot below the knee joint, thirty-five (35) degrees of permanent impairment; and of the leg above the knee joint, forty-five (45) degrees of permanent impairment.

(2) Amputations occurring on or after July 1, 1997: For the loss by separation of any of the body parts described in subdivision (1) on or after July 1, 1997, the dollar values per degree applying on the date of the injury as described in subsection (j) shall be multiplied by two (2). However, the doubling provision of this subdivision does not apply to a loss of use that is not a loss by separation.

(3) The loss of more than one (1) phalange of a thumb or toe shall be considered as the loss of the entire thumb or toe. The loss of more than two (2) phalanges of a finger shall be considered as the loss of the entire finger. The loss of not more than one (1) phalange of a thumb or toe shall be considered as the loss of one-half (1/2) of the degrees of permanent impairment for the loss of the entire thumb or toe. The loss of not more than one (1) phalange of a finger shall be considered as the loss of one-third (1/3) of the finger and compensation shall be paid for one-third (1/3) of the degrees payable for the loss of the entire finger. The loss of more than one (1) phalange of the finger but not more than two (2) phalanges of the finger shall be considered as the loss of one-half (1/2) of the finger and compensation shall be paid for one-half (1/2) of the degrees payable for the loss of the entire finger.

(4) For the loss by separation of both hands or both feet or the total sight of both eyes or any two (2) such losses in the same accident, one hundred (100) degrees of permanent impairment.

(5) For the permanent and complete loss of vision by enucleation or its reduction to one-tenth (1/10) of normal vision with glasses, thirty-five (35) degrees of permanent impairment.

(6) For the permanent and complete loss of hearing in one (1) ear, fifteen (15) degrees of permanent impairment, and in both ears, forty (40) degrees of permanent impairment.

(7) For the loss of one (1) testicle, ten (10) degrees of permanent impairment; for the loss of both testicles, thirty (30) degrees of permanent impairment.

(8) Loss of use: The total permanent loss of the use of an arm, a hand, a thumb, a finger, a leg, a foot, a toe, or a phalange shall be considered as the equivalent of the loss by separation of the arm, hand, thumb, finger, leg, foot, toe, or phalange, and compensation shall be paid in the same amount as for the loss by separation. However, the doubling provision of subdivision (2) does not apply to a loss of use that is not a loss by separation.

(9) Partial loss of use: For the permanent partial loss of the use of an arm, a hand, a thumb, a finger, a leg, a foot, a toe, or a phalange, compensation shall be paid for the proportionate loss of the use of the arm, hand, thumb, finger, leg, foot, toe, or phalange.

(10) For disablements resulting in total permanent disability, the amount payable for impairment or five hundred (500) weeks of compensation, whichever is greater.

(11) Visual impairments shall be based on the Functional Vision Score (FVS) assessing the visual acuity and visual field to evaluate any reduction in ability to perform vision-related Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Unless such loss is otherwise specified in subdivision (5), visual impairments shall be paid as a whole person rating.

(12) For any permanent reduction of the hearing of one (1) or both ears, less than the total loss as specified in subdivision (6), compensation shall be paid in an amount proportionate to the degree of a permanent reduction.

(13) In all other cases of permanent partial impairment, compensation proportionate to the degree of a permanent partial impairment, in the discretion of the worker’s compensation board, not exceeding one hundred (100) degrees of permanent impairment.

(14) In all cases of permanent disfigurement which may impair the future usefulness or opportunities of the employee, compensation, in the discretion of the worker’s compensation board, not exceeding forty (40) degrees of permanent impairment except that no compensation shall be payable under this subdivision where compensation is payable elsewhere in this section.

     (j) With respect to disablements occurring on and after July 1, 1991, compensation for permanent partial impairment shall be paid according to the degree of permanent impairment for the disablement determined under subsection (i) and the following:

(1) With respect to disablements occurring on and after July 1, 2010, and before July 1, 2014, for each degree of permanent impairment from one (1) to ten (10), one thousand four hundred dollars ($1,400) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment from eleven (11) to thirty-five (35), one thousand six hundred dollars ($1,600) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment from thirty-six (36) to fifty (50), two thousand seven hundred dollars ($2,700) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment above fifty (50), three thousand five hundred dollars ($3,500) per degree.

(2) With respect to disablements occurring on and after July 1, 2014, and before July 1, 2015, for each degree of permanent impairment from one (1) to ten (10), one thousand five hundred seventeen dollars ($1,517) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment from eleven (11) to thirty-five (35), one thousand seven hundred seventeen dollars ($1,717) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment from thirty-six (36) to fifty (50), two thousand eight hundred sixty-two dollars ($2,862) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment above fifty (50), three thousand six hundred eighty-seven dollars ($3,687) per degree.

(3) With respect to disablements occurring on and after July 1, 2015, and before July 1, 2016, for each degree of permanent impairment from one (1) to ten (10), one thousand six hundred thirty-three dollars ($1,633) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment from eleven (11) to thirty-five (35), one thousand eight hundred thirty-five dollars ($1,835) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment from thirty-six (36) to fifty (50), three thousand twenty-four dollars ($3,024) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment above fifty (50), three thousand eight hundred seventy-three dollars ($3,873) per degree.

(4) With respect to disablements occurring on and after July 1, 2016, and before July 1, 2023, for each degree of permanent impairment from one (1) to ten (10), one thousand seven hundred fifty dollars ($1,750) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment from eleven (11) to thirty-five (35), one thousand nine hundred fifty-two dollars ($1,952) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment from thirty-six (36) to fifty (50), three thousand one hundred eighty-six dollars ($3,186) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment above fifty (50), four thousand sixty dollars ($4,060) per degree.

(5) With respect to disablements occurring on and after July 1, 2023, and before July 1, 2024, for each degree of permanent impairment from one (1) to ten (10), one thousand eight hundred three dollars ($1,803) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment from eleven (11) to thirty-five (35), two thousand eleven dollars ($2,011) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment from thirty-six (36) to fifty (50), three thousand two hundred eighty-two dollars ($3,282) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment above fifty (50), four thousand one hundred eighty-two dollars ($4,182) per degree.

(6) With respect to disablements occurring on and after July 1, 2024, and before July 1, 2025, for each degree of permanent impairment from one (1) to ten (10), one thousand eight hundred fifty-seven dollars ($1,857) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment from eleven (11) to thirty-five (35), two thousand seventy-one dollars ($2,071) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment from thirty-six (36) to fifty (50), three thousand three hundred eighty dollars ($3,380) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment above fifty (50), four thousand three hundred seven dollars ($4,307) per degree.

(7) With respect to disablements occurring on and after July 1, 2025, and before July 1, 2026, for each degree of permanent impairment from one (1) to ten (10), one thousand nine hundred thirteen dollars ($1,913) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment from eleven (11) to thirty-five (35), two thousand one hundred thirty-three dollars ($2,133) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment from thirty-six (36) to fifty (50), three thousand four hundred eighty-one dollars ($3,481) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment above fifty (50), four thousand four hundred thirty-six dollars ($4,436) per degree.

(8) With respect to disablements occurring on and after July 1, 2026, for each degree of permanent impairment from one (1) to ten (10), one thousand nine hundred seventy dollars ($1,970) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment from eleven (11) to thirty-five (35), two thousand one hundred ninety-seven dollars ($2,197) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment from thirty-six (36) to fifty (50), three thousand five hundred eighty-five dollars ($3,585) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment above fifty (50), four thousand five hundred sixty-nine dollars ($4,569) per degree.

     (k) The average weekly wages used in the determination of compensation for permanent partial impairment under subsections (i) and (j) shall not exceed the following:

(1) With respect to disablements occurring on or after July 1, 2009, and before July 1, 2014, nine hundred seventy-five dollars ($975).

(2) With respect to disablements occurring on or after July 1, 2014, and before July 1, 2015, one thousand forty dollars ($1,040).

(3) With respect to disablements occurring on or after July 1, 2015, and before July 1, 2016, one thousand one hundred five dollars ($1,105).

(4) With respect to disablements occurring on or after July 1, 2016, and before July 1, 2023, one thousand one hundred seventy dollars ($1,170).

(5) With respect to disablements occurring on or after July 1, 2023, and before July 1, 2024, one thousand two hundred five dollars ($1,205).

(6) With respect to disablements occurring on or after July 1, 2024, and before July 1, 2025, one thousand two hundred forty-one dollars ($1,241).

(7) With respect to disablements occurring on or after July 1, 2025, and before July 1, 2026, one thousand two hundred seventy-eight dollars ($1,278).

(8) With respect to disablements occurring on or after July 1, 2026, one thousand three hundred sixteen dollars ($1,316).

     (l) If any employee, only partially disabled, refuses employment suitable to the employee’s capacity procured for the employee, the employee shall not be entitled to any compensation at any time during the continuance of such refusal unless, in the opinion of the worker’s compensation board, such refusal was justifiable. The employee must be served with a notice setting forth the consequences of the refusal under this subsection. The notice must be in a form prescribed by the worker’s compensation board.

     (m) If an employee has sustained a permanent impairment or disability from an accidental injury other than an occupational disease in another employment than that in which the employee suffered a subsequent disability from an occupational disease, such as herein specified, the employee shall be entitled to compensation for the subsequent disability in the same amount as if the previous impairment or disability had not occurred. However, if the permanent impairment or disability resulting from an occupational disease for which compensation is claimed results only in the aggravation or increase of a previously sustained permanent impairment from an occupational disease or physical condition regardless of the source or cause of such previously sustained impairment from an occupational disease or physical condition, the board shall determine the extent of the previously sustained permanent impairment from an occupational disease or physical condition as well as the extent of the aggravation or increase resulting from the subsequent permanent impairment or disability, and shall award compensation only for that part of said occupational disease or physical condition resulting from the subsequent permanent impairment. An amputation of any part of the body or loss of any or all of the vision of one (1) or both eyes caused by an occupational disease shall be considered as a permanent impairment or physical condition.

     (n) If an employee suffers a disablement from an occupational disease for which compensation is payable while the employee is still receiving or entitled to compensation for a previous injury by accident or disability by occupational disease in the same employment, the employee shall not at the same time be entitled to compensation for both, unless it be for a permanent injury, such as specified in subsection (i)(1), (i)(4), (i)(5), (i)(8), or (i)(9), but the employee shall be entitled to compensation for that disability and from the time of that disability which will cover the longest period and the largest amount payable under this chapter.

     (o) If an employee receives a permanent disability from an occupational disease such as specified in subsection (i)(1), (i)(4), (i)(5), (i)(8), or (i)(9) after having sustained another such permanent disability in the same employment the employee shall be entitled to compensation for both such disabilities, but the total compensation shall be paid by extending the period and not by increasing the amount of weekly compensation and, when such previous and subsequent permanent disabilities, in combination result in total permanent disability or permanent total impairment, compensation shall be payable for such permanent total disability or impairment, but payments made for the previous disability or impairment shall be deducted from the total payment of compensation due.

     (p) When an employee has been awarded or is entitled to an award of compensation for a definite period from an occupational disease wherein disablement occurs on and after April 1, 1963, and such employee dies from other causes than such occupational disease, payment of the unpaid balance of such compensation not exceeding three hundred fifty (350) weeks shall be paid to the employee’s dependents of the second and third class as defined in sections 11 through 14 of this chapter and compensation, not exceeding five hundred (500) weeks shall be made to the employee’s dependents of the first class as defined in sections 11 through 14 of this chapter.

     (q) Any payment made by the employer to the employee during the period of the employee’s disability, or to the employee’s dependents, which, by the terms of this chapter, was not due and payable when made, may, subject to the approval of the worker’s compensation board, be deducted from the amount to be paid as compensation, but such deduction shall be made from the distal end of the period during which compensation must be paid, except in cases of temporary disability.

     (r) When so provided in the compensation agreement or in the award of the worker’s compensation board, compensation may be paid semimonthly, or monthly, instead of weekly.

     (s) When the aggregate payments of compensation awarded by agreement or upon hearing to an employee or dependent under eighteen (18) years of age do not exceed one hundred dollars ($100), the payment thereof may be made directly to such employee or dependent, except when the worker’s compensation board shall order otherwise.

     (t) Whenever the aggregate payments of compensation, due to any person under eighteen (18) years of age, exceed one hundred dollars ($100), the payment thereof shall be made to a trustee, appointed by the circuit or superior court, or to a duly qualified guardian, or, upon the order of the worker’s compensation board, to a parent or to such minor person. The payment of compensation, due to any person eighteen (18) years of age or over, may be made directly to such person.

     (u) If an employee, or a dependent, is mentally incompetent, or a minor at the time when any right or privilege accrues to the employee under this chapter, the employee’s guardian or trustee may, in the employee’s behalf, claim and exercise such right and privilege.

     (v) All compensation payments named and provided for in this section, shall mean and be defined to be for only such occupational diseases and disabilities therefrom as are proved by competent evidence, of which there are or have been objective conditions or symptoms proven, not within the physical or mental control of the employee.

Formerly: Acts 1937, c.69, s.8; Acts 1949, c.242, s.1; Acts 1951, c.250, s.1; Acts 1955, c.326, s.1; Acts 1963, c.388, s.11; Acts 1971, P.L.354, SEC.2; Acts 1974, P.L.109, SEC.5. As amended by Acts 1976, P.L.112, SEC.5; Acts 1977, P.L.261, SEC.5; Acts 1979, P.L.227, SEC.5; P.L.95-1988, SEC.14; P.L.170-1991, SEC.19; P.L.258-1997(ss), SEC.14; P.L.31-2000, SEC.8; P.L.1-2001, SEC.28; P.L.134-2006, SEC.9; P.L.168-2011, SEC.13; P.L.275-2013, SEC.13; P.L.204-2018, SEC.12; P.L.139-2020, SEC.5; P.L.32-2021, SEC.64; P.L.160-2022, SEC.7.