Workers Compensation benefits cover: 1) Lost wages, 2) Permanent Partial Disability, 3) Loss of earning capacity and/or retraining benefits, and 4) Medical Expenses.
LOST WAGES
Workers Compensation benefits cover your lost wages. Lost wages are paid in the form of temporary total disability benefits or temporary partial disability benefits. Temporary total disability benefits are paid at 2/3 of your average weekly wage, tax free. If you are not receiving temporary total or temporary partial disability benefits and thus, your workers’ compensation benefits are not being covered, it is important that you contact a workers’ compensation lawyer.
PERMANENT PARTIAL DISABILITY
Workers Compensation benefits cover the permanent partial disability percentage assigned by your treating physician. A permanent partial disability percentage is not assigned until an injured worker reaches end of healing (i.e. their physician believes that they are “as good as they are going to be”) for their injury. Once the percentage is assigned, it is submitted to the Workers Compensation insurance company for payment. The permanent partial disability rate is based on the date or year the injury occurred. As of March 2, 2016, the permanent partial disability rate rose to $342.00 per week. If the workers’ compensation benefits, which include, but are not limited to permanent partial disability, are not covered, it is important that you contact a workers’ compensation lawyer.
LOSS OF EARNING CAPACITY AND/OR RETRAINING
Workers Compensation benefits cover your loss of earning capacity if your employer cannot accommodate your permanent restrictions. If you are assigned permanent restrictions as a result of your work injury and the employer cannot accommodate these restrictions, workers’ compensation benefits cover your “loss of earning capacity.” This can be paid as a straight percentage or in the form of retraining benefits. Retraining benefits are workers’ compensation benefits that are paid if an individual participates in a formal schooling program. If the workers’ compensation insurance company does not offer loss of earning capacity or retraining benefits, it is important that you contact a Milwaukee WI worker’s compensation lawyer.
MEDICAL EXPENSES
Workers Compensation benefits cover your medical expenses. If you need medical treatment as a result of your work injury, it is important that the medical bill is sent to the Workers Compensation insurance company for payment. If the workers’ compensation insurance company is not covering the costs of your medical expenses, and thus, your workers’ compensation benefits are not being covered, it is important that you contact a workers’ compensation lawyer.
Thanks to our friends and co-contributors of Hickey & Turim, P.C. for their insight into workers’ compensation benefits
