After a work-related injury, workers’ comp can cover medical expenses and provide you with income so you can focus on your recovery without financial stress. Once you recover, you can resume your previous work duties.
But what happens if you don’t make a full recovery? Will your workers’ comp run out, leaving you with no way to provide for your family?
Types of workers’ comp benefits
Workers’ comp offers five different types of benefits:
- Medical care to cover any expenses related to your treatment, including surgeries, medications and therapies
- Temporary disability benefits if you lose wages due to your inability to perform your job while recovering.
- Permanent disability benefits in the event your injury results in permanent limitations impacting your ability to work
- Supplemental job displacement benefits via vouchers to help with retraining if you can’t return to your previous job.
- Death benefits to your family if your work-related injury results in death
Suppose you have reached a point of maximum recovery. In that case, your treating physician will write a report that states what medical conditions you continue to experience. It will also detail any work limitations, medical care you may need in the future, if you can return to your previous job and how much of your disability was caused by your work-related injury compared to other factors.
The amount of disability payments you will receive depends upon that report and other components, such as age, date of injury and the type of work you did. Therefore, your permanent disability benefits may not wholly replace your lost income.
Can SSDI help?
If you face long-term or permanent disability, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), a federal program that provides financial support if you can’t work due to a significant disability.
Understanding the complexities of workers’ compensation can be challenging. Having someone who can guide you through the process gives you the best chance of securing benefits.
