04 NCAC 10A .0501. AGREEMENTS FOR PROMPT PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION

(a)  To facilitate the payment of compensation within the time prescribed in G.S. 97-18, the Commission shall accept memoranda of agreements on Commission forms.

(b)  No agreement for permanent disability shall be approved until the relevant medical and vocational records known to exist in the case have been filed with the Commission.  When requested by the Commission, the parties shall file any additional documentation necessary to determine whether the employee is receiving the disability compensation to which he or she is entitled and that an employee qualifying for disability compensation under G.S. 97-29 or G.S. 97-30, and G.S. 97-31 has the benefit of the more favorable remedy.

(c)  All memoranda of agreements shall be submitted to the Commission.  Agreements conforming to the provisions of the Workers' Compensation Act shall be approved by the Commission and a copy returned to the employer, carrier, or administrator, and a copy sent to the employee, unless amended by an award, in which event the Commission shall return the award with the agreement.

(d)  The employer, carrier, administrator, or the attorney of record, if any, shall provide the employee's attorney of record or the employee, if unrepresented, a copy of a Form 21 Agreement for Compensation for Disability, a Form 26 Supplemental Agreement as to Payment of Compensation, a Form 26D Agreement for Payment of Unpaid Compensation in Unrelated Death Cases, and a Form 30 Agreement for Compensation for Death, when the employee or appropriate beneficiary signs the forms.

(e)  All memoranda of agreements for cases that are calendared for hearing before a Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner shall be sent directly to that Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner.  Before a case is calendared, or once a case has been continued or removed, or after the filing of an Opinion and Award, all memoranda of agreements shall be directed to the Claims Section of the Commission.

(f)  After the employer, carrier, or administrator has received a memorandum of agreement that has been signed by the employee and the employee's attorney of record, if any, the employer, carrier, or administrator has 20 days within which to submit the memorandum of agreement to the Commission for review and approval or within which to show cause for not submitting the memorandum of agreement signed only by the employee.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 97-18; 97-80(a); 97-82;

Eff. January 1, 1990;

Amended Eff. November 1, 2014; August 1, 2006;