Brothers and Sisters,
The purpose of this memorandum is to advise you about issues relating to the Benefits Office’s efforts to implement the Special 14-Day Weekly Income Benefit for Active Members who must self-quarantine on account of COVID-19. As you know, the application process for receiving this 14-day Weekly Income Benefit has been streamlined and simplified: (1) due to the issues facing an Active Member who must self-quarantine and (2) so that the Benefits Office can issue Weekly Income Benefits to eligible Active Members as soon as possible. As hardships relating to the COVID-19 pandemic have escalated (even since yesterday), Benefits Office personnel have had to respond to a number of questions from Members, Employers and Local Unions relating to an Active Member’s eligibility for this special 14-Day Weekly Income Benefit. As of last night, some of the inquiries we received suggested there may be misunderstandings concerning eligibility for the Special 14-Day Weekly Income Benefit on account of COVID-19 Quarantine.
Based on advice from Fund Counsel and input from my staff, with respect to 14-Day Weekly Income Benefit eligibility, the Benefits Office will advise Members, Employers and Local Unions as follows:
- Active Members who have been directed by their Employers to Self-Quarantine because they have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus or have symptoms associated with the COVID-19 virus are eligible for the 14-Day Weekly Income Benefit.
- Active Members who Self-Quarantine because they have a good faith belief that they have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus or have symptoms associated with the COVID-19 virus are eligible for the 14-Day Weekly Income Benefit.
- Active Members who have been diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus will be eligible for the Health Benefit Plan’s standard Weekly Income Benefit. However, the Active Member must use the standard Weekly Income Benefit application form and have a treating physician sign off on that diagnosis in order to be eligible for the Plan’s standard Weekly Income Benefit.
- Active Members who are advised by their Employers that they cannot work because: a construction site or building has been shut down; a local government has ordered a lockdown or shelter-in-place order, or there is no work available due to the COVID-19 pandemic are not unable to work on account of Self-Quarantine. Accordingly, the Benefits Office will deny Special 14-Day Weekly Income Benefit claims to Active Members who apply for the Special 14-Day Weekly Income Benefit based on the fact that they cannot work on account of a construction site or building shut down; a local government ordered lockdown or shelter-in-place order, or lack of work related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While we will continue to process Special 14-Day Weekly Income Benefits (COVID-19 Quarantine) based on an Active Member’s submission of a Special 14-Day Weekly Income Benefit Form (COVID-10 Quarantine) wherein the Active Member certifies that his or her Employer directed the Active Member to Self-Quarantine or that the Active Member believes he or she should Self-Quarantine because of exposure to COVID-19 or because of COVID-19 symptoms, we believe it is important that Active Members, Employers and the IUEC and its Local Unions understand that this special benefit is limited to those Active Members who must Self-Quarantine. We note that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued a COVID-19 Self-Quarantine Guide that is very helpful in determining whether an individual should Self-Quarantine. I have included this guidance as an attachment to this memorandum.
Thank you for your attention to this matter, and please be safe.
Robert Betts | Executive Director