According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 2.8 million workplace injuries reported in 2018. These were the cases that required the worker to miss work following an incident.
If you recently got injured at work, you might be looking into workers’ compensation benefits. Continue reading to learn the answer to this burning question: “What’s workers’ compensation?”
What’s Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation is the policy put in place to cover employees when an incident results in an injury or illness. This policy makes sure that the employee is still able to stay afloat financially amid medical bills and lost wages related to the incident.
Understanding Workers’ Compensation: How Does It Work?
When an employee is injured on the job, the employer must provide them with the forms needed to file a claim.
There are different types of workers’ compensation that an employee may be eligible for as a result of a workplace injury or illness. The type of injury/illness sustained by the employee determines which type is received. These guidelines are set out by the U.S. Department of Labor under the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP).
Medical Benefits
Workers’ compensation is meant to cover the medical expenses from any medical services and supplies needed for treatment of the injury/illness. Hospital visits, doctor visits, and even transportation to appointments are covered.
Compensation for Total Temporary Disability
An injury that leaves the employee temporarily unable to work can be compensated with the continuation of payments they would get from working their usual shifts for up to 45 days. If the injury keeps them out of work for longer than that, they can then be compensated through the OWCP.
Occupational diseases aren’t eligible for the continuation of payment and can claim compensation immediately through the OWCP.
The payment rates through compensation are generally cut to 2/3 the normal pay rate for an employee with no dependents, but only 3/4 for employees with at least one dependent.
Compensation for Permanent Effects of Injury
Workers’ compensation benefits are paid out for a certain amount of time for a permanent impairment to a body part that is a result of a workplace injury.
Loss of earning capacity is taken into consideration when it comes to compensation benefits. When an employee is able to return to work but is unable to return to the previous workload, workers’ compensation can be paid to the individual.
An individual participating in vocational rehabilitation is also eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.
Individuals requiring 24/7 care are eligible for workers’ compensation as a result of permanent injury from a work-related incident.
Compensation for Death
The dependents of an individual that died as a result of a workplace injury may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. The benefits received come at a percentage of the employee’s salary.
Workers’ Compensation Doctors in the Bronx
If you are having trouble finding the right doctor near you for your workers’ compensation injury/illness case, check out our comprehensive list of workers’ compensation doctors.
We can help you get in touch with the right doctor for you.
What’s Next?
Now you should be able to answer the question, “What’s workers’ compensation?”
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