Workers’ compensation benefits are meant to help workers and their families to meet their needs while they are unable to work after a workplace accident. Some of these needs include the injured person’s immediate medical care, but the benefits cover other important needs.
Five basic types
There are five basic benefits types for workers’ compensation benefits under California law:
- Medical care: Injured workers can receive medical care benefits. The injured worker’s medical expenses are paid by the employer while they recover from their workplace injury or illness.
- Temporary disability benefits: Injured workers can receive payments for lost wages they suffered because their workplace injury prevents them from doing their usually job while they are recovering.
- Permanent disability benefits: Injured workers can receive payments for permanent disability if they do not recover from their workplace injury completely.
- Supplemental job displacement benefits: Some injured workers may be able to receive vouchers that can help them with retraining or skill enhancement if they do not completely recover from their workplace injury and return to work for their employer.
- Death benefits: Death benefit payments may be available to spouses, children or other dependents if the worker dies in a fatal workplace accident.
Get help
Workers’ compensation benefits can help injured workers and their families to navigate many of the difficulties they may face because of a workplace illness or injury. Unfortunately, the workers’ compensation process does not always work smoothly. Sometimes, insurers deny claims or provide benefits that are insufficient for the worker’s needs. A skilled workers’ compensation attorney can help the injured and their families to understand their options and fight for the benefits they need and deserve.
