Understanding Workers’ Compensation Benefits & How They Work

Understanding Workers’ Compensation Benefits & How They Work

If you work in a high-risk profession, it is likely that your employer provides some form of workers’ compensation benefits.

But what are workers’ compensation benefits?

How do they work?

What can they cover for you and your family?

These are important questions when you or a loved one has been injured or become ill due to a workplace incident.

This blog post will answer all of those questions so that you have the knowledge to make an informed decision about whether or not this insurance is right for you.

We’ll help you understand how workers’ compensation works and why it’s so important to protect yourself from injury on the job.

An Overview of Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation is an insurance plan provided by your employer to protect you in case of injury or illness on the job.

It provides payments for medical costs, time off work, and a percentage of lost wages if appropriate. Workers’ compensation can reimburse you up to 100% of expenses not paid from other sources like health insurance policies.

So, put simply, if you are injured or become ill due to an accident, injury or exposure, your employer is required to pay you workers’ compensation.

What is Workers’ Compensation Insurance?

Workers’ comp insurance is a form of liability insurance that compensates employees for the time they are unable to work due to an injury suffered on the job.

Workers’ compensation pays medical expenses, lost wages, and rehabilitation costs.

In most states, your employer is required to carry workers’ compensation insurance.

Related: Can I file a workers’ compensation claim if I am injured by a co-worker?

What are Workers’ Compensation Benefits?

Workers’ compensation benefits are payments for medical costs, time off work, and a percentage of lost wages if appropriate. Workers’ compensation can reimburse you 100% of expenses not paid from other sources like health insurance policies.

Types of workers’ compensation benefits.

Workers’ compensation benefits and their requirements vary from state to state.

Some of the most common types of workers’ compensation benefits include:

• Payment for lost wages
• Medical coverage or assistance
• Temporary disability
• Permanent disability

Understanding the types of workers’ compensation benefits you can receive

Again, what benefits your state requires and the type(s) of compensation for which you are eligible depends on the state in which you work and the nature of your injury.

If you are injured at work, chances are you are eligible for one of the following types of workers’ comp benefits:

Payment for lost wages

Payment for lost wages is a benefit that is paid to compensate an employee for wages lost due to the injury or illness.

Temporary disability benefits

Temporary disability is the worker’s loss of earnings while recovering from a work-related injury or illness.

These benefits are temporary compensation for an injury that requires you to miss work but does not permanently remove you from the workplace.

Permanent disability benefits

Permanent Disability (PD) is an award that may be paid when there is a total and permanent incapacity to perform any gainful occupation due to the employee’s condition.

Payment for medical expenses and rehabilitation costs

Payment for medical expenses is, for the most part, just as it sounds.

When you are injured at work, you will most likely be required to visit a doctor or doctors.

If this is the case, your employer’s workers’ compensation benefits will most likely be required to cover your medical costs.

Rehabilitation benefits are payments made by workers’ compensation insurance companies to help with the cost of your physical therapy, crutches, braces, etc., while you recover from your work-related injury.

Related: Workers’ compensation laws in the State of North Carolina

How Do I Know Which Workers’ Compensation Benefits I Should Be Receiving?

Before you begin working, you should receive documents outlining the conditions of your workers’ compensation benefits.

If you do not have them or cannot find them, we recommend contacting your employer.

They will be able to provide details regarding their workers’ compensation coverage and the benefits for which you are eligible.

Most importantly, we recommend speaking with a local workers’ comp attorney to discuss your situation, your injuries, and the compensation you should be receiving.

A workers’ compensation lawyer will have experience with workplace injuries and will be able to help you determine if you are receiving the proper compensation and benefits for your work injuries.