What Are The Different Types Of Workers Compensation Benefits?
Posted on: 20 April 2016
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When a person becomes injured on the job, he is entitled to receive workers compensation payments. This means that he will receive workers compensation checks while he is unable to work to replace the income he cannot earn due to being injured. The workers compensation payments normally continue until the employee recovers and is able to return to work.
However, workers compensation covers much more for one who is hurt on the job than lost wages. These are the other benefits that are also provided when an injured employee is eligible for workers compensation.
Medical Expense Benefits
The medical expenses that occur due to the on the job injury are also paid for by workers compensation. This includes all physician bills, hospital expenses, emergency room costs, surgical costs and medications.
If the employee must be treated by a specialist or needs ongoing medical care for an extended period of time, this too must be paid for by the workers compensation plan the employer carries.
Rehabilitation Benefits
If the injured employee must go through rehabilitation to be able to recover from the injury, this is also covered by workers compensation. Types of treatment such as physical therapy, occupational therapy or chiropractic care are some of the different types of rehabilitation that workers compensation commonly pays for.
If the employee must go through training to regain the skills needed to return to work, this is also covered by workers compensation. In some situations, the employee may not ever be able to do the same type of work due to the severity of his injuries. Workers compensation may be required to pay for his training and education needed to help him obtain work elsewhere.
Death Benefits
If the employee dies due to the injuries sustained at his place of work, his family is entitled to be paid death benefits. This includes the cost of the burial expenses and compensation for the loss of income the family who depended on him now suffers. These compensation payments are paid to the closest family members of the deceased employee, such as his spouse, children or parents.
If an injured employee becomes permanently disabled, workers compensation may also pay what is called long term disability payments. Long term disability payments are often a percentage of what the employee normally earned while working at his job before he became injured. The percentage amount that is paid may vary according to the workers compensation laws in the state the employee resides in.
Contact professionals like Lovett Schefrin Harnett to learn more.