Newsletter
DISABILITY BENEFITS AVAIL-ABLE FOR PRE-EXISTING CON-DITIONS
In an interpretation dated 18 May 2006, the Council of Labor Affairs relaxed the rules for the payment of labor insurance disability benefits.
An insured worker who has lawfully joined the labor insurance scheme while genuinely working, but at the time of joining had a preexisting injury or sickness, is entitled to receive disability benefit if during the period of insurance he suffers an event leading to disability as a result of his pre-existing condition. If a worker was already dis-abled before joining the labor insurance scheme, no benefit can be paid for the preexisting dis-ability. If the degree of disability increases while the worker is covered by labor insurance, dis-ability benefit is payable, but a proportion cor-responding to the preexisting level of disability will be deducted.