Q: How do eligible employers apply for a WBL program workers’ compensation insurance premium reimbursement
A: To apply for a WBL program workers’ compensation premium reimbursement, employers should

• ensure they are participating in a valid WBL program,
• complete, sign, and date the application,
• include copies of all Department required documents, and
• send the application package to the address listed at the bottom of the application.

Q: What do eligible employers need to complete a WBL Program Workers’ Compensation Premium Reimbursement Application?
A: Eligible employers may refer to the items below to learn about application requirements.

• Section 446.54, F.S.
• You may read the newly passed statutory language in SB 240. The application requirements begin at line 850.
• The Department has created a checklist to assist eligible employers prepare an application.
• The application itself also contains the requirements.

Q: How do eligible employers receive payment for their WBL program workers’ compensation insurance premium reimbursement?
A: The DFS reimbursement process uses the MyFloridaMarketplace (MFMP) Vendor Information Portal for payment. To receive any WBL program workers’ compensation premium reimbursement, an employer must register as a vendor. To register, please visit the following website and follow MFMP’s instructions.
https://www.dms.myflorida.com/business_operations/state_purchasing/myfloridamarketplace/mfmp_vendors/requirements_for_vendor_registration

Q: How long do employers have to submit a WBL program workers’ compensation premium reimbursement application?
A: Applications sent in the current fiscal year must request reimbursement for the previous fiscal year. The Department of Financial Services operates on a July through June fiscal year. A request for the reimbursement of WBL program workers’ compensation premium paid in fiscal year 2022 – 2023 must be submitted between July 1, 2023, and June 30,2024.

Q: What is DOE’s WBL Program?
A: DOE offers a complete summary of the program on their website. The information is available at https://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/work-based-learning.stml.

Per s 446.0915 F.S., the term “work-based learning opportunity” means an interaction with industry or community professionals that occurs in a workplace setting, to the extent possible, or a simulated environment at an educational institution that allows firsthand experience with tasks required in a given career field, is aligned with curriculum and instruction, and is provided in partnership with an educational institution.

Q: How do employers sign up with the DOE to participate in a WBL program?
A: The DOE has minimum standards and guidelines for determining student eligibility, obligations of the employers, and requirements of institutions that offer work-based learning opportunities. Employers should contact the DOE if they are interested in taking part in the work-based learning opportunities or visit their website at https://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/work-based-learning.stml.

Q: Who is eligible for a WBL program workers’ compensation premium reimbursement?
A: Section 446.54, F.S. states that employers, including school districts and Florida College System institutions, may apply for reimbursement of workers’ compensation premium paid during the fiscal year for students participating in WBL programs in the previous fiscal year.

Q: Are employers participating in a WBL program that have unpaid student volunteers eligible for a workers’ compensation premium reimbursement?
A: No, unpaid student volunteers participating in the WBL program do not qualify for workers’ compensation premium reimbursement.

Q: Are self-insured employers, as defined in s. 440.38, F.S., eligible for a workers’ compensation premium reimbursement?
A: Employers authorized to fund its workers’ compensation liabilities as prescribed in s. 440.38, F.S., do not pay a workers’ compensation premium; therefore, they are not eligible for a WBL program workers’ compensation premium reimbursement.

Q: How do employers identify the classification codes their carrier uses when estimating WBL program workers’ compensation premium reimbursement?
A: The employer’s workers’ compensation 4-digit classification code(s) is/are listed on the Workers’ Compensation and Employer’s Liability Declaration page. If an employer is unsure, they contact their workers’ compensation carrier.

DFS has an estimated premium calculator available for public use that assists employers estimate workers’ compensation premium.
NOTE: This calculator is meant for employers pricing current workers’ compensation rates and premium. Using this calculator will utilize current rates, but employers seeking reimbursement will be reimbursed based on rates for the period the student participated in the WBL program. Since the NCCI generally publishes rates on a calendar year basis, the calculator referenced here will not provide an exact premium calculation. https://minimarket.fldfs.com/Calculator

Q: How is premium reimbursement calculated?
A: The Department’s method of calculation utilizes the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation’s only approved premium calculation methodology for all Florida workers’ compensation insurers. This methodology takes into consideration the student’s work duties, the NCCI classification code(s), the related workers’ compensation rate, and the total wages. The premium formula for a paid student employee is as follows.

Premium = (Student’s Gross Pay/100)* Rate
Note: The rate is derived using the student’s classification and NCCI’s related rate in effect for the employment period being reimbursed.

To do this calculation:

• First, determine the gross payroll amount for the student.
• Second, divide that gross payroll amount by 100.
• Lastly, multiply the value determined in the second step above by the NCCI rate that corresponds to the student’s NCCI classification code. This is the student’s workers’ compensation premium amount.

Example 1:
Here is an example calculation for a student who is working as an office clerk. This student works 20 hours per week for 20 weeks at a wage of $11.00 per hour.

• Total payroll = 20 hours per week * 20 weeks * $11 per hour = $4,400
• $4,400/100 = $44.00
• The NCCI classification code for clerical work is 8810. The corresponding rate for this classification code is 0.15.
• $44.00 * 0.15 = $6.60

For this example, the employer should expect a premium reimbursement of $6.60 for this student.

Example 2:
Here is an example calculation for a student learning how to replace a roof. This student works 20 hours per week for 20 weeks at a wage of $11.00 per hour.

• Total payroll = 20 hours per week * 20 weeks * $11 per hour = $4,400
• $4,400/100 = $44.00
• The NCCI classification code for roofing is 5551. The corresponding rate for this classification code is 10.57.
• $44.00 * 10.57 = $465.08

For this second example, the employer should expect a premium reimbursement of $465.08 for this student.

Q: Does the Department have a tool to assist employers perform an estimated workers’ compensation premium calculation?
A: DFS  has an estimated premium calculator available for public use that assists employers estimate workers’ compensation premium.
NOTE: This calculator is meant for employers pricing current workers’ compensation rates and premium. Using this calculator will utilize current rates, but employers seeking reimbursement will be reimbursed based on rates for the period the student participated in the WBL program.  Since the NCCI generally publishes rates on a calendar year basis, the calculator referenced here will not provide an exact premium calculation. https://minimarket.fldfs.com/Calculator