Several factors, including eligibility rules in your state, determine how much weekly workers ' compensation benefits an injured employee can receive. You might be eligible for up to two-thirds of your mean weekly salary, depending on the severity of your on-the-job injuries and whether you suffered a permanent or temporary total disability. Read on to learn more.
The type of injury benefits you 're entitled to depend on your ability (or lack thereof) to resume work in some capacity.
If you 're unable to resume work for some time due to a work-related temporary disability, you may be entitled to time loss compensation benefits. In most states, the payment you 'll receive would be 66% of your pay at the date of injury. Depending on your state 's rules, you may receive these benefits once a week or a month for up to 156 weeks or even 52 weeks in some states. Also, your lost wages may include any discontinued health care benefits in some cases.
In some states, workers ' comp rules don 't provide for €œloss of earning power. € These benefits are offered to employees who are only able to do lower-paying, light duties or part-time work after a workplace injury. Generally, eligible employees receive a percentage of the difference between their current wages and earnings on the day of their on-the-job injury.
Your employer 's worker 's compensation insurer will pay your medical bills as they 're incurred directly to your doctor. The cost of treatment doesn 't affect any temporary total disability or loss of earning power benefits to which you 're entitled. Generally, you shouldn 't have to worry about paying for treatment after suffering an injury that 's typically covered by workers ' compensation insurance.
After your claim is closed, you may be eligible for continuous, weekly workers ' compensation benefits in one of the following scenarios:
You may receive these pension benefits for the rest of your life after suffering total and permanent work-related disability. Your surviving spouse may be eligible to continue receiving the weekly or monthly pension after your death, depending on where you live. The benefit is a fraction of your wages at the time of workplace injury and is lower than your regular time loss compensation before your claim was closed.
Instead of settling for a lump sum, you may prefer weekly payments for a lifelong impairment that isn 't 100% total disability. Calculations for the regular benefits may be based on the severity of your impairment or a portion of your pre-injury wages, or both.
With a structured workers ' compensation settlement, you can continue getting regular benefits after the closure of your industrial permanent injury claim. In states where these arrangements are available, your employer would agree to pay out the settlement in small amounts over a specified period of time. You may continue receiving the payments for one or several years instead of a one-time lump sum settlement. The terms of the structured agreement will determine the compensation amount you receive and the frequency of the payments.
For any questions about workers ' compensation benefits, contact us at Kneller Insurance Agency today. Our experts are ready to work closely with you in developing the right solution for your unique workforce and business needs.
