What kinds of benefits are provided by workers’ compensation?

If you have been injured at work, you may have heard that you are eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits. What exactly is workers’ compensation and what does it mean to you?

Workers’ compensation is an insurance program that each state requires employers to maintain. This insurance provides, in the event you are injured or contract an illness as the result of your job, money to replace your lost wages and pay for your medical expenses related to care of and recovery from your injuries.

As each state can define their workers’ compensation insurance programs, the specific benefits provided by workers’ compensation vary on a state-by-state basis. However, in general, the following benefits are provided by workers’ compensation.

Workers Compensation replaces Wages

While you are unable to work, workers’ compensation provides pay in place of your regular paycheck. The amount of this pay is calculated as a percentage of your salary or hourly wage you were earning before you were injured. While this percentage ranges widely depending on the state where you live, it is generally no more than about two-thirds of your actual pay. This is in part because disability pay from workers’ compensation is not subject to income tax, so the difference in the amount you take home is not as wide of a range as it first may appear.

The length of time workers’ compensation provides you a paycheck varies based on the circumstances and the state where you live, but if you are permanently disabled as a result of the injury or illness and you cannot return to work, workers’ compensation may provide permanent disability payments or a lump sum settlement.

Workers Compensation provides Medical Expenses

Workers’ compensation covers the cost of various medical expenses, such as doctor visits, surgeries, and medications related to the treatment of your injury or illness. This treatment can include any rehabilitation you need as well, such as physical therapy, so that you can function day-to-day as you could before the incident. Medical expenses also include non-medical related costs indirectly tied to your medical treatment, such as the cost of travel to your doctor appointments.

Workers Compensation may provide Training for a New Job

If as a result of your injury or illness you cannot return to the job you performed previously, workers’ compensation will pay for training you in a new skill set so that you can perform another job.

In exchange for these benefits, injured individuals generally waive their right to sue the company where they were injured. But as noted above, as workers’ compensation benefits vary for each state, you should confirm the specific workers’ compensation benefits provided in your state and what steps you need to take to obtain them.

Compensation Attorneys and Workers Compensation

Workers’ compensation attorneys are specifically trained and experienced in dealing with workers’ compensation claims. They will know the specific workers’ compensation laws in your state and the benefits they provide, so they can make sure you obtain was is rightfully yours if you have been injured or made ill as a result of your job.

By completing the short form below, a workers’ compensation attorney can review your case and give you an initial evaluation on if you are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. This review is free of charge, 100% confidential, and does not obligate you to anything further. Therefore, please take advantage of this opportunity today to find out if you are in line to receive workers’ compensation benefits for your injury or illness.

by Beth L.

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