According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 5,283 fatal work injuries recorded in 2023, a 3.7% decrease from 5,486 in 2022. The fatal injury rate has also decreased, from 3.7 per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers in 2022 to 3.5 in 2023.
When an employee suffers any work-related injuries or illnesses, they are entitled to file for a workers’ compensation claim. The goal is to ensure that workers who are injured on the job receive the necessary medical treatment and compensation to help them recover and return to work.
Employees can refer to the workers’ comp settlement chart to see the settlement amounts and maximum payment for workers’ compensation categories like temporary and permanent disability benefits, whole-person impairment adjustments, and supplemental job displacement benefits.
This article will provide an overview of workers’ compensation benefits and how they can help you cope with workplace injuries.
Medical Benefits
Medical benefits assist individuals in covering any medical-related costs associated with their recovery.
Promptly report your injury and follow your employer’s guidelines to access these benefits.
Keep your medical appointment and spending statements to support your claim. Taking preemptive efforts in health care management may help a patient recover faster and return to less demanding tasks.
All types of workers’ compensation benefits have different qualifying criteria and processes, so you need to familiarize yourself with them if you want to maximize your workers’ compensation.
Wage Loss Benefits
Wage loss benefits provide financial assistance following a work-related injury or disease. If the injury you have sustained keeps you from working, wage loss benefits replace a portion of your lost wages. The amount is determined by local state laws and is usually around two-thirds of the average weekly wage prior to injury or illness.
Document any treatment you’ve received and time missed from work. It will solidify your case and help secure the benefits you’re entitled to.
Disability Benefits
Disability benefits may provide essential financial assistance if a work-related injury or illness prevents you from performing your job duties.
These benefits will normally pay you a percentage of your income to cover basic expenses such as rent, power, and groceries.
You can categorize disability benefits into two groups: temporary total disability benefits and permanent disability benefits. Temporary total disability refers to a situation where you are rendered incapable of work for a limited period of time but are expected to make a recovery and be able to return to work. Permanent disability occurs when an injury prevents a worker from returning to any gainful employment. Permanent disability is typically associated with life-long injuries.
Your benefits may vary from check to check depending on the injury’s severity and last year’s pay rate. For those who have filed for disability compensation, this phase usually includes completing a fairly tedious process. Consult a lawyer to assist you with collecting and organizing documentation to substantiate your claim.
Rehabilitation Benefits
Rehabilitation benefits are critical in the aftermath of a job-related injury or illness. These benefits help you prepare to return to work by providing medical treatment, physical therapy, vocational training, and job placement assistance.
Rehabilitation services offer personalized services to help you regain your skills and boost your self-esteem in the workplace.
If your previous job required physical activity and your capacity for activity was limited as a result of the injury, rehabilitation benefits allow you to be trained for another career that is more appropriate for your current physical abilities.
This process might include job training or education, equipping you with the necessary skills for a different role.
Death Benefits
Death benefits are paid to the family of a worker whose death can be directly attributed to an occupational disease or accident.
The benefit includes funeral and burial costs, help for dependents, and lost income. There are two forms of this benefit, either in a lump sum or in regular payments. The payment structure that will be enforced will be determined by each state’s specific workers’ compensation laws.
The claim in most instances needs to be filed without any delay, and most states require the applicant to establish the cause of death or be subject to one of the agreed-upon criteria.
Keep in mind that there is a deadline for filing a valid claim, and failing to meet it may result in the loss of your benefits.
