Sec. 354.

(1) This section is applicable when either weekly or lump sum payments are made to an employee as a result of liability pursuant to section 351, 361, or 835 with respect to the same time period for which old-age insurance benefit payments under the social security act, 42 U.S.C. 301 to 1397f; payments under a self-insurance plan, a wage continuation plan, or a disability insurance policy provided by the employer; or pension or retirement payments pursuant to a plan or program established or maintained by the employer, are also received or being received by the employee. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the employer’s obligation to pay or cause to be paid weekly benefits other than specific loss benefits under section 361(2) and (3) shall be reduced by these amounts:

(a) Fifty percent of the amount of the old-age insurance benefits received or being received under the social security act.

(b) The after-tax amount of the payments received or being received under a self-insurance plan, a wage continuation plan, or under a disability insurance policy provided by the same employer from whom benefits under section 351, 361, or 835 are received if the employee did not contribute directly to the plan or to the payment of premiums regarding the disability insurance policy. If such self-insurance plans, wage continuation plans, or disability insurance policies are entitled to repayment in the event of a worker’s compensation benefit recovery, the carrier shall satisfy such repayment out of funds the carrier has received through the coordination of benefits provided for under this section. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, attorney fees shall be paid pursuant to section 821 to the attorney who secured the worker’s compensation recovery.

(c) The proportional amount, based on the ratio of the employer’s contributions to the total insurance premiums for the policy period involved, of the after-tax amount of the payments received or being received by the employee pursuant to a disability insurance policy provided by the same employer from whom benefits under section 351, 361, or 835 are received, if the employee did contribute directly to the payment of premiums regarding the disability insurance policy.

(d) The after-tax amount of the pension or retirement payments received or being received pursuant to a plan or program established or maintained by the same employer from whom benefits under section 351, 361, or 835 are received, if the employee did not contribute directly to the pension or retirement plan or program. Subsequent increases in a pension or retirement program shall not affect the coordination of these benefits.

(e) The proportional amount, based on the ratio of the employer’s contributions to the total contributions to the plan or program, of the after-tax amount of the pension or retirement payments received or being received by the employee pursuant to a plan or program established or maintained by the same employer from whom benefits under section 351, 361, or 835 are received, if the employee did contribute directly to the pension or retirement plan or program. Subsequent increases in a pension or retirement program shall not affect the coordination of these benefits.

(f) For those employers who do not provide a pension plan, the proportional amount, based on the ratio of the employer’s contributions to the total contributions made to a qualified profit sharing plan under section 401(a) of the internal revenue code or any successor to section 401(a) of the internal revenue code covering a profit sharing plan which provides for the payment of benefits only upon retirement, disability, death, or other separation of employment to the extent that benefits are vested under the plan.

(2) To satisfy any remaining obligations under section 351, 361, or 835, the employer shall pay or cause to be paid to the employee the balance due in either weekly or lump sum payments after the application of subsection (1).

(3) In the application of subsection (1) any credit or reduction shall occur pursuant to this section and all of the following:

(a) The bureau shall promulgate rules to provide for notification by an employer or carrier to an employee of possible eligibility for social security benefits and the requirements for establishing proof of application for those benefits. Notification shall be promptly mailed to the employee after the date on which by reason of age the employee may be entitled to social security benefits. A copy of the notification of possible eligibility shall be filed with the bureau by the employer or carrier.

(b) Within 30 days after receipt of the notification of possible employee eligibility the employee shall:

(i) Make application for social security benefits.

(ii) Provide the employer or carrier with proof of that application.

(iii) Provide the employer or carrier with an authority for release of information which shall be utilized by the employer or carrier to obtain necessary benefit entitlement and amount information from the social security administration. The authority for release of information shall be effective for 1 year.

(4) Failure of the employee to provide the proof of application or the authority for release of information as prescribed in subsection (3) shall allow the employer or carrier with the approval of the bureau to discontinue the compensation benefits payable to the employee under section 351, 361, or 835 until the proof of application and the authority for release of information is provided. Compensation benefits withheld shall be reimbursed to the employee upon the providing of the required proof of application, or the authority for release of information, or both.

(5) If the employer or carrier is required to submit a new authority for release of information to the social security administration in order to receive information necessary to comply with this section, the employee shall provide the new authority for release of information within 30 days of a request by the employer or carrier. Failure to provide the new authority for release of information shall allow the employer or carrier with the approval of the bureau to discontinue benefits until the authority for release of information is provided as prescribed in this subsection. Compensation benefits withheld shall be reimbursed to the employee upon the providing of the new authority for release of information.

(6) Within 30 days after either the date of first payment of compensation benefits under section 351, 361, or 835, or 30 days after the date of application for any benefit under subsection (1)(b), (c), (d), or (e), whichever is later, the employee shall provide the employer or carrier with a properly executed authority for release of information which shall be utilized by the employer or carrier to obtain necessary benefit entitlement and amount information from the appropriate source. The authority for release of information is effective for 1 year. Failure of the employee to provide a properly executed authority for release of information shall allow the employer or carrier with the approval of the bureau to discontinue the compensation benefits payable under section 351, 361, or 835 to the employee until the authority for release of information is provided. Compensation benefits withheld shall be reimbursed to the employee upon providing the required authority for release of information. If the employer or carrier is required to submit a new authority for release of information to the appropriate source in order to receive information necessary to comply with this section, the employee shall provide a properly executed new authority for release of information within 30 days after a request by the employer or carrier. Failure of the employee to provide a properly executed new authority for release of information shall allow the employer or carrier with the approval of the bureau to discontinue benefits under section 351, 361, or 835 until the authority for release of information is provided as prescribed in this subsection. Compensation be