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Family testimony, lawmakers back bill to raise workers’‑comp funeral reimbursement
Summary
Sen. Lovely and a mother whose son died on the job urged the committee to increase the maximum workers’‑compensation funeral reimbursement to better cover modern funeral costs.
Boston — The Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development heard testimony on June 18 urging an increase in the maximum workers’‑compensation reimbursement for funeral expenses after a workplace death.
Sen. Lovely outlined S.1353 (and companion H.2138), which would raise the cap on funeral reimbursement to $25,000 or 10 times the average weekly wage, whichever is greater. She cited a constituent case in which the family of a worker killed on the job received insufficient reimbursement to cover funeral costs.
Rena Harrington, whose son Justin was killed in a workplace incident in Gloucester in 2018, testified remotely about her family’s experience. She described being told at the funeral home that workers’‑compensation would reimburse funeral costs, but said the insurance carrier denied some expenses and the family faced unexpected out‑of‑pocket charges. Harrington told the committee: “Families should not have to pick and choose what they can afford to pay when a loved one passes away unexpectedly and tragically while at work.”
Supporters argued the present statutory formula — a multiplier of the average weekly wage that, under current calculations, can produce a reimbursement below typical funeral costs — leaves families with large bills. The bill would raise the reimbursement floor and tie the reimbursement to modern costs.
Ending: The committee took testimony but no vote. Senators and witnesses asked for a favorable report and said they would continue to work with committee staff on the language.
