Compared to the weekly total incapacity, is the weekly death claim benefit higher or lower?

• A. Higher
• B. Not determinable
• C. Lower
• D. Equal

Answer: (A)

The key idea is who receives the benefit and why it’s paid at a replacement level. Death benefits are intended to replace the income a family loses when a worker dies, so they’re set to provide ongoing support to dependents. In Rhode Island, these benefits are calculated to deliver a substantial weekly replacement to survivors, and they aren’t tied to the worker’s ongoing ability to work in the same way as incapacity benefits are. Because incapacity benefits go to the worker and are limited by duration and potential offsets, the weekly amount available to dependents in a death scenario is typically higher on a per‑week basis. So, the weekly death claim benefit is higher.