Second Injury Fund Overview

The Second Injury Fund ("SIF" or "the Fund") is a state operated workers' compensation insurance fund established in 1945 to discourage discrimination against veterans and encourage the assimilation of workers with a pre-existing injury into the workforce. Public Act 95-277 closed the Fund to new "second injury" claims for injuries sustained on or after July 1, 1995 and expanded enforcement, fines and penalties against employers who fail to provide workers' compensation coverage. Prior to July 1, 1995, the Fund provided relief to employers where a worker, who already had a pre-existing injury or condition, was hurt on the job and that second injury was made "materially and substantially" worse by the first injury (thus the term "Second Injury Fund"). Such employers transferred liability for these workers' compensation claims to the Fund, if certain criteria were met under the Connecticut Workers' Compensation Act.

Today the Fund continues to be liable for those claims transferred prior to the closing of the Fund as well as claims involving uninsured employers, reimbursement of cost of living adjustments for certain injuries involving payment of total disability benefits or dependent widow's benefits and, on a pro rata basis, reimbursement claims to employers of any worker who had more than one employer at the time of the injury.

The Fund seeks to provide quality service both to the injured workers and employers of Connecticut, whom it jointly serves and accomplishes this by adjudicating qualifying workers' compensation claims fairly and in accordance with applicable law, industry standards and best practices. Where possible, the Fund seeks to return injured workers to gainful employment or seeks settlement of claims, which ultimately reduces the burden on Connecticut taxpayers and businesses.

The Fund is financed by assessments on all Connecticut employers. Annually, the State Treasurer, as Custodian of the Fund, establishes the assessment rate on or before May 1st.