When you are injured at work, you are eligible to receive workers compensation benefits. This type of insurance is designed to support employees who have been hurt or sickened on the job. Each state has different standards for eligibility, but there are four types of workers compensation benefits that generally apply no matter where you live. Each one comes with its own conditions and limitations. Let’s take a look at each one in more detail.
Temporary Disability Benefits
Temporary disability benefits are paid to you for the time you are out of work due to your injury. These benefits are intended to help you offset the financial loss you experience while you recover. They are usually paid as a percentage of your average earnings during a period of 26 weeks.
Temporary disability benefits are an important part of workers compensation because they provide a source of income while you are recuperating from an injury. You are also entitled to a percentage of your regular wages while you are out sick, regardless of whether or not your illness or injury occurred at work.
Permanent Partial Disability
An injury that is assessed as a permanent partial disability can impact your ability to perform certain tasks or earn certain wages. For this reason, you may be entitled to a permanent partial disability payment if your injury results in a reduction of your earning capacity.
The amount of your PPD award is calculated using the state’s PPD schedule. The schedule lists the amount of compensation you can receive for each type of injury, based on the type and severity of the injury. Note that some injuries are not reportable or serious enough to qualify for PPD. You will need to be assessed by trained medical staff to make a determination on your injury and if it qualifies for PPD.
Permanent Total Disability Benefits
If your injury is assessed as a permanent total disability, you may be entitled to receive a full disability payment. This type of workers compensation benefit is designed to compensate you for all future lost earnings as a result of your disability. Permanent disabilities are often caused by severe injuries, such as a broken back or a leg injury that results in a lasting limp. However, permanent disabilities can be caused by relatively simple injuries as well. The key to having an injury classified as a permanent disability is that your injury takes away your ability to do your job.
The amount of your disability payment will be calculated using the state’s disability schedule in the same way that your PPD would be calculated, just using a different schedule. Permanent disabilities tend to receive higher payments since you can’t return to work in the same way that you did before.
It is important to note that you can have a permanent disability and still work. If you take a job that you can do with your disability, you won’t automatically lose your benefits. However, it can impact how much you make depending on the work that you do and how much you earn. The impact is different for every state. Check with your state’s worker’s comp laws before taking a job to be sure.
Supplemental Earnings Benefits
If you are able to work but are suffering from a serious injury that prevents you from earning a living wage, you may be entitled to supplemental earnings benefits. These benefits are intended to supplement your wages so that you can earn enough to support yourself financially.
Supplemental earnings benefits often apply when you have a high-earning job, but your injury or disability reduces your earning potential. If you can’t do your job anymore and you need to take a job that pays significantly less, supplemental benefits may apply to help you bridge the gap in how much you earn before and after the injury. Your supplemental earnings award is typically calculated at 25% of your average weekly wage. You are allowed to earn up to a maximum amount each week without reducing your worker’s compensation benefits. This amount is based on your impairment rating, which measures the severity of your impairment.
Who is Responsible for Workers Compensation Insurance?
Employers are responsible for ensuring all employees have adequate workers compensation insurance. If they fail to provide it, the employers should be held accountable for payments associated with work-related injuries or deaths. Additionally, workers need to be aware of their employers’ responsibilities so they can understand why it is crucial to have basic safety procedures and precautions in place. Not all states require companies to have workers comp policies in place. Check with state regulations before accepting a job so that you know what the requirements are.
How to Receive Workers Compensation Benefits?
In order to receive workers compensation benefits, you must report your injury to your employer in a timely manner. Your employer has 15 days to report the injury to their workers compensation insurance carrier. If you don’t report your injury, or if your employer fails to report the injury to their workers compensation insurance carrier, your ability to receive workers compensation benefits may be affected.
Furthermore, you must have what is called a “valid workers compensation claim,” meaning you must prove that your injury was caused by your work environment. This can be tricky because there is no single uniform standard for what constitutes a valid workers compensation claim. Instead, each state has its own set of workers compensation laws governing what types of injuries may be compensable.
Call to Get a Quote for Workers Compensation Insurance
Although workers compensation is designed to support injured employees, it can be complicated to navigate. It’s important to understand your rights as an employee who has been hurt on the job. If you think you may be eligible for workers compensation benefits, it’s important to report your injury as soon as possible.
Millers Insurance Group provides workers compensation insurance to companies in a variety of industries, including cannabis-related businesses. Please reach out to us or fill out our online form to get an insurance quote today for your company’s workers compensation coverage.
