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Understanding What’s Covered in Your Workers’ Comp Settlement

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You’ve been injured on the job and made the decision to file for workers’ comp. What can you expect from your settlement? You may be anxious about money since you’re unable to work. As primary breadwinner, your family depends on your salary to make ends meet.

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State-mandated workers ‘compensation insurance is designed to help cover your medical expenses and lost wages while you are unable to work. Here is everything you need to consider before you begin your claim, including exactly what workers’ comp will pay for and how the four types of disability benefits can affect you!

A Definitive List of Medical Expenses Covered by Workers’ Comp

Workers’ comp is a state-mandated insurance program designed to assist those who have been injured while on the job. You can divide the types of expenses into four major categories: Compensation related to medical care, rehabilitation, disability and death. If you are unsure as to what kind of benefits you quality for, consult the help of an experienced workers’ comp attorney like the team at Green Law Firm!

1. Medical Expenses Covered by Workers’ Compensation

Here is a list of the medical-related expenses that are covered under the insurance. Medical expenses involve everything needed to get you the care to heal and recover. State laws dictate if you can select your medical provider or must use one chosen by your employer.

  • Hospital and doctor visits
  • Prescriptions and medications
  • Surgical procedures
  • Medical equipment such as a wheelchair or crutches
  • Acupuncture, counseling and therapy will also sometimes be covered

2. Rehabilitation Services Included in Workers’ Comp

Rehabilitation benefits provided by Workers’ comp include services such as physical therapy that help injured individuals to recover. This includes care and training that may be needed to help injured employees regain skills and abilities needed for work they had before the accident. If, for some reason, the injury or illness incurred leaves an employee unable to perform the same functions at work — yet still ABLE to work — rehabilitation benefits may also include retraining and tuition to teach new skills.

3. Understanding Disability Benefits

Disability benefits are specifically designed to compensate you for wages lost while you are unable to work. They are divided into four categories with the benefit amount varied depending on the severity of injury incurred.

  • Temporary Total Disability

This is a disability that leaves you totally unable to work but only for a specific and limited period. It means an employee is unable to work “now” but will be able to return to work without issues in the future. This is the most common kind of disability awarded.

  • Temporary Total Disability

This level of disability prevents injured employees from doing a portion of their job duties during a limited period. This means for a period someone is unable to perform all of their job duties but can return to their job fully functioning after recovery.

  • Permanent Partial Disability

This level of disability prevents you from returning to work performing your previous job or one that is similar. To get permanent total disability, you do not need to be medically incapacitated or unable to function, simply unable to function in the role you formally performed.

  • Permanent Partial Disability

This is a level of disability that is permanent but only prevents you from doing part of your old job.

The amount of benefit you receive is based on the amount of money an employee made before being injured.

Typically, this will be two-thirds of the original wage; this money is not taxable! If you were working two jobs at the time of your injury, you might receive wages that cover each. In the state of South Carolina, there is a seven-day waiting period before wages are paid out. If you have been out of work for more than 14 days, then you will also receive payment for the initial seven-day waiting period.

4. Death Benefits Included in Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation provides benefits to persons directly related to the deceased person and who are financially dependent on them. This can include spouse, child, siblings or parents. The main function of this benefit is to compensate those financially dependent on the deceased employee for their loss of income.

The state of South Carolina provides 500 weeks of compensation plus benefits for the funeral and burial up to $2,500. By default, a spouse and children under the age of 18, or age 19+ yet enrolled in school, are deemed to be “wholly dependent” on the deceased party. Illegitimate, stepchildren and adopted children are excluded from receiving death benefits. Death benefits can be a complex matter to deal with at a highly emotional and intense time. If you have lost a loved one due to a work accident, contact Green Law Firm to help ease the burden during this hard time.

Final Things to Consider About Workers’ Compensation

While benefits can be inclusive, pain and suffering are not covered under workers’ compensation. Also, several groups of workers’ are also excluded from state-operated insurance. This includes:

Federal employees who, instead, are covered under the Federal Employers Liability Act; and Maritime workers’, covered under the Jones Act (specifically for seamen who can sue their ship owners) and the Longshore Act (for dock workers).

Bill Green and the team at Green Law Firm understand the complexities involved in workers’ comp cases. They can help injured employees through this trying time by handling their cases with the care, respect and attention it deserves! If you or a loved one have been injured at work, call today us 888-800-2455. Your consultation is 100 percent risk free!

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