Worker’s compensation is a system in the United States and many other countries that provide benefits to injured employees or employees that contracted an illness at work. Individual states usually administer the program as part of social welfare programs.
Generally, worker’s compensation pays a portion of an employee’s lost wages and covers the cost of medical treatment related to workplace injury or illness.
However, there are some limits on what worker’s compensation will be paid. In this post, we will go over several types of lost wage scenarios and the factors contributing to the amount workers receive in lost wages.
Content Lists
● Temporary Partial Disability Benefits
If you can return to work but earn less money than before the injury or illness, you may qualify for temporary partial disability benefits. These benefits will replace a portion of the wages you lost while you were injured or ill and could not perform the same type of or reach the same efficiency as before the injury. The benefit amount is usually two-thirds of your pre-injury or pre-illness wages, up to a maximum amount set by the state you reside in.
● Permanent Partial Disability Benefits
If your workplace injury or illness leaves you with a permanent disability, you may be eligible for permanent partial disability benefits. These benefits are paid in addition to any temporary partial disability benefits you may have already received. The benefit amount is based on your age, education level, work experience, and the severity of your disability.
● Permanent Total Disability Benefits
If your workplace injury or illness leaves you completely unable to work, you may be eligible for permanent total disability benefits. These benefits are paid in addition to any temporary partial disability benefits you receive. The benefit amount, like with temporary partial disability, is two-thirds of your pre-injury or pre-illness wages, up to a maximum amount set by your state.
● Workplace Death Benefits
If a workplace injury or illness results in an employee’s death, their spouse and dependent children may be eligible for death benefits. Death benefits are paid in addition to other workers’ compensation benefits that may be due. The benefit amount is two-thirds of the deceased employee’s average weekly wage, up to a maximum amount set by your state.
● When Lost Wages May Not Be Covered
Unfortunately, there are several reasons why your lost wages might not be covered by worker’s compensation, even if your injury is work-related. In most states, you usually miss at least five workdays before worker’s compensation will start covering lost wages. Another reason for being denied benefits is refusing to see a doctor or get treatment. By refusing to be treated by a professional, worker’s compensation probably won’t cover lost wages.
Conclusion: Many Factors Go Into Lost Wage Compensation
There are several types of worker’s compensation benefits that an injured or ill employee may be eligible for, depending on the extent of their injuries. In general, worker’s compensation will pay a portion of an employee’s lost wages and cover the cost of medical treatment related to workplace injury or illness.
