Double Dipping: Working And Getting Workers' Comp
If you get injured at work, or as a result of work, you may know that your workers' comp insurance will cover you in several ways. What you may not consider, however, is that there are several levels of compensation and that your benefits package may be as unique as your particular injury. To learn more about the various forms of workers' comp, including the ability to return to your job and still earn benefits, read on:
Three Main Types of Workers' Comp Benefits.
With injuries that range from minor to serious, your workers' comp benefits change as you progress through the three main steps in getting well.
1. Temporary Benefits: This is the most commonly-known level of benefits and is meant to last anywhere from a few days to a few months. Every injury is different, and every claimant heals differently. In most cases, you will be expected to return to your job after a relatively minor injury, such as a muscle pull, in a few days or weeks. While you are in this phase of benefits, you can expect to receive a portion of your salary while you stay home and recuperate and get full payment of your medical bills.
2. Permanent Benefits: When your injury is more serious, or does not heal as expected, you may be asked to undergo a special type of medical exam so that the workers' comp insurance company can learn more about your medical condition. If the workers' comp doctor determines that your medical condition is not expected to get any better, you may receive a ruling of reaching maximum medical improvement. This ruling means that you are permanently disabled.
3. Permanent Partial Benefits: In this category, you may have an injury to a certain body part that has been ruled at maximum medical improvement. You may still be able to work at a job, but with restrictions.
Partial Permanent Disability
The level of your disability is assigned a rating number, with the exact process varying by state. In most cases, your permanent injury will be assigned a percentage number. For example, you may be ruled to be 75% disabled for a spinal injury that leaves you with upper body use. In this instance, you will receive a corresponding amount of compensation, such as 75% of your previous pay, while still allowing you to earn the other 25% by returning to a job. In some cases, vocational rehabilitation is offered to assist those who need to learn new skills for employment.
The need for a workers' comp attorney when negotiating to get you the maximum benefits possible should not be underestimated. If you have more questions, click this link to ask your questions to experts in workers compensation.
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