Kentucky Workers Compensation - laws,rules,statutes,state contacts and detailed policy information

State: Kentucky

Authority/Rating Bureau: NCCI, National Council on Compensation Insurance

Compulsory: Yes

Private Insurance: Allowed

Self-Insurance: Allowed

State Fund: The Kentucky Employers’ Mutual Insurance Authority, a competitive state fund, contact at: http://www.kemi.com/

Assigned Risk:

Numerical Exceptions: None. With few exceptions, all Kentucky employers are subject to the Workers’ Compensation Act and are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance or become self-insured, even if they have only one part-time employee. There is an exemption for employers engaged exclusively in agriculture. See special notes below.

Individual Waivers Allowed: Yes. Employees may reject coverage under the Workers’ Compensation Act by signing and filing with the employer an Employee’s Notice of Rejection of Workers’ Compensation Act, commonly known as a Form 4 Waiver. This waiver must be filed with the Department of Workers’ Claims to be effective and will remain in effect until voluntarily withdrawn.

Sole Proprietor: Excluded from coverage/may elect to be included - If included in coverage a workers compensation flat payroll of 45,200 is used for rating purposes as of 10-1-7.

Partners: Excluded from coverage/may elect to be included - When included in coverage a workers compensation flat payroll of 45,200 is used as of 10-1-7.

Corporate Officers: Included in coverage/may elect to be exempt - When included in coverage a minimum annual corporate officer payroll of 16,848 is used as of 10-1-7.

LLC Members: Excluded from coverage/ Qualified members may elect to be covered. A qualified member is one that participates in the decision making process and the profit and losses. If included in coverage LLC Members are treated like partners.

Contractors: Whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor is a frequently disputed issue in workers’ compensation claims. Four main factors are considered: the nature of the work performed as it relates to the business of the possible employer, the extent of control of details of the work, the professional skill of the worker and the intentions of the parties. Generally, an independent contractor, as a skilled tradesman, works on his/her own without direct supervision, setting work hours and providing the needed tools and equipment for the job. An independent contractor is not entitled to workers’ compensation benefits unless he/ she has purchased his/her own policy.

Special Notes: Who else is covered by Kentucky Workers Compensation? Every person who is a member of a volunteer ambulance service, fire or police department shall be considered an employee of the political subdivision of the state where that department is organized. Every person who is a regularly enrolled volunteer member or trainee of an emergency management agency, as established under KRS chapters 39A to 39E, shall be considered an employee of this state. Every person who is a member of the Kentucky National Guard, while that person is on state active duty as defined in KRS 38.010 (4), shall be considered to be in the employment of the state. “Kentucky National Guard” includes the Army National Guard and Air National Guard.

Who is not covered? Some employees are exempt from mandatory workers’ compensation coverage. Some of these exemptions include farm workers and workers employed as domestic servants in a home with less than two full-time employees. Also exempt is any person employed by homeowners for residential maintenance and repair for up to twenty (20) consecutive workdays. Additionally, employees who are protected by federal laws (such as railroad and maritime workers) and members of certain religious sects are exempt from coverage under the Workers’ Compensation Act. Business owners are not required to obtain coverage for themselves, but may be covered if they specifically purchase workers’ compensation coverage for themselves. If the business is a corporation and the owner is a corporate officer, then that individual is considered an employee of the corporation and therefore covered.

Regulated By:

Department of Workers' Claims

657 Chamberlin Avenue

Frankfort, Kentucky 40601

Phone: (502) 564-5550

Toll-free: 1-800-554-8601

http://www.labor.ky.gov/workersclaims/

Workers Compensation Statute:

http://www.labor.ky.gov/workersclaims/statutesregs.htm

Information on this page is provided only as a reference. While we strive to mantain accurate information on this site please realize workers compensation laws are complicated and subject to change at any time. If you need help with a workers compensation problem or have a specific situation or question please contact our office. Otherwise please consult your states governing authority or an attorney in your state of residency for assistance.

Contact Us:
WORKERS COMPENSATION CONSULTANT
Voice: (573) 999-6948
Fax: (573) 447-4998
email: rks@workcompconsultant.com

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Kentucky Workers Compensation Laws

Workers compensation policy information for the State of Kentucky