Code of Massachusetts Regulations
452 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
Title 452 CMR 3.00 - Workers' Compensation Trust Fund
Section 3.03 - Reimbursement of Cost of Living Adjustments

(1) A person entitled to receive yearly increases in benefits under M.G.L. c. 152, § 31, pursuant to St. 1982, c. 663, § 1, shall continue to receive said benefits on or after November 1,1986 and shall not be eligible for benefits pursuant to M.G.L. c. 152, § 34B. For the purposes of M.G.L. c. 152, §65(2)(a), ''adjustments to compensation pursuant to M.G.L. c. 152, §34B" shall not include benefits which are paid under M.G.L. c. 152, § 31, pursuant to St. 1982, c. 663, § 1. Any overpayment by an insurer or self insurer resulting from the promulgation of 452 CMR 3.00 shall be recovered only through the use of future credits and not through a reduction of benefits currently paid.

(2) The initial increase in benefits under M.G.L. c. 152, § 34B shall be payable on the first October 1st subsequent to the date marking the 24-month anniversary of the date of injury. If the date marking the anniversary falls on a review date, the increase is payable as of that review date.

(3) A party requesting reimbursement pursuant to M.G.L. c. 152, § 65(2)(a) or § 65(2)(b), shall file a form prescribed by the Department, received and date stamped by the Department no later than two calendar years from the date on which the benefit payment, for which the reimbursement request being filed, was due.

(4) An employee receiving benefits under M.G.L. c. 152, §§ 31 or 34A, who has received a written request from an insurer, shall cooperate with the insurer in obtaining or providing any information from the Social Security Administration necessary to the calculation of any adjusted benefits that may be due under M.G.L. c. 152, § 34B. No insurer shall be required to pay adjusted benefits until all necessary information is available, provided that the insurer has made a good faith effort to obtain that information.