Workers who have sustained injuries in their line of duty should never have to pay out of pocket for any accident-related treatment expenses. Fortunately, there is workers’ compensation, which is insurance that covers employees who have been hurt on the job. The benefits cover ongoing treatment and care, partial wages lost from the time taken off work to recuperate, and even funeral costs in severe accidents.
The duration of receiving the benefits varies from state to state. The differences in the duration of receiving benefits depend on the severity of your injury. For instance, employees who sustained more severe and longer-lasting disabilities will receive payments for a longer time compared to those with minor injuries. Furthermore, the timeline for workers comp benefits will depend on the specific type of workers’ disability that you receive. The different categories may include:
Temporary Total Disability (TTD)
TTD benefits are paid to workers who are too injured or sick to work regularly but their injury isn’t permanent. Under TTD, you will receive indemnity benefits that will replace your lost wages until your healthcare provider or doctor says you can resume working again.
Supplemental Earnings Benefits (SEB)
This disability is granted when an employee gets injured but is still able to carry out some tasks in the workplace. You will receive payments to compensate for the decrease in your earning potential if you are still able to carry out a fraction of what you used to do before the injury. Supplemental earning benefits are only limited to a maximum of 10 years only.
Permanent Partial Disability (PPD)
This disability is caused by an injury that is permanent and may hinder someone’s ability to properly work. For instance, if someone has damaged their knee on the job, their ability to walk may be affected but they can still carry out other tasks.
Under PPD, you can still carry out some work and receive indemnity benefits based on the body part that has been injured and the anatomical loss identified by your doctor.
Permanent Total Disability (PTD)
You will receive this type of benefit only if your injury was so severe that you will never resume working again. Thus, you will probably receive benefits indefinitely.
When do disability payments begin?
The insurance will reimburse medical costs very quickly. On the other hand, the injured worker will not receive disability benefits until the claim application has already been submitted and approved. Thus, it can take weeks or even months after the accident. Therefore, it is advisable to file a claim immediately after the accident.
Conclusion
The deadlines for submitting the benefits claim are different in each state. For instance, in New York, the injured worker must submit the claims within two years from the accident date. They must also inform their employer about the accident. Before filing a claim, you should speak with a workers’ comp attorney who can guide you on the legal process of pursuing your benefits and maximizing the likelihood of increasing the amount of your benefits so it can cover all your accident-related expenses.
