Types of workers' compensation benefits

Types of Workers' Compensation Benefits As an employer, it is your legal responsibility to compensate your workers/employees when they meet any accident or get injured at the workplace. Likewise, if you are an employee or a worker, it is your right to get the compensation if you are injured at your workplace. Therefore, it is important to know the benefits of workers’ compensation which are described as below:

Medical Expenses Workers’ compensation covers the medical expenses right from the stage of diagnosis to the stage of treatment and all other medicine expenses. Though these medical expenses completely depend on a state’s laws regarding workers’ compensation. A state’s laws decide the coverage of medical expenses as to what extent workers’ compensation will be paid. The medical expenses generally include the costs of visiting the doctor, getting treatment, surgery and also they cover any special equipment if it is required after any surgery like a wheelchair or a special vehicle. Moreover, the insurance covers only the recognized medical procedures and not the experimental ones.

Disability: Workers’ compensation also covers and pays for the disability of the employee if it happens after any illness or injury. The disability is categorized into two categories as: Temporary Total Disability This means that the worker is temporarily facing some disability but, will be able to work in future without any physical issues.

Temporary Partial Disability This means that the worker will not be able to fulfill certain part of their duty for a certain period until they recover. In this case, the percentage of payment of workers’ compensation depends on the pay given to that worker.

Permanent Partial Disability This means the worker is permanently disabled partially to perform his duty at his workplace.

Permanent Total Disability This means the worker is completely disabled for the lifetime and that he/she will never return to his job.

The amount of compensation depends on how much amount you earned before your injury or illness occurred. Normally, it is paid two-third of your wages paid. Moreover, there is a waiting period before you receive the compensation and you are not required to pay any income tax on this income.

Rehabilitation Sometimes, the injury is so serious that the worker needs rehabilitation services in the form of therapy to recover and regain the ability to resume duty at his/her workplace. In this case, workers’ compensation benefits the worker for these services. Also, if the worker is not fitted for another position, then the retraining services payment is also given to them to make them suitable for another position.

Wage Loss Compensation This kind of payment is done when you are forced to return to your work at lower wage or in a condition when you are unable to find a job suitable to your physical limitations.

Living Maintenance Compensation This kind of compensation is given to the worker in the case of rehabilitation period. This is because, till the time he/she is off duty, he/she is compensated for his/her and his/her family’s living expenses. But, again, the amount of compensation may be completely a percentage of your wages that you earn before your injury or illness.

Specific Loss Benefit This type of compensation or the benefit is given to the worker if he/she has lost any specific part of the body during the accident at the workplace. Normally, amputations of a finger, hand or toe will qualify for benefits as well as loss of vision or hearing, permanent scarring of your head, neck or face also get qualified for a compensation accordingly.

Settlement This amount is usually, a lumpsum amount that is paid once and is said to be a one-time payment to the worker for the injury or illness. This amount is usually negotiated with the employer or the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.

There are benefits with workers’ compensation; provided you are completely aware of your rights as an employee. The above-mentioned benefits will definitely guide you through acquiring your workers’ compensation. But again, all the rules regarding the workers’ compensation completely depend on the state you are living in.

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