Types of Workers' compensation Benefits
Even after you’ve determined that your on-the-job injury qualifies you for workers’ compensation, calculating the benefits you should receive can be a complicated task.
The first step is to determine the severity of your injury, whether it will keep you out of work permanently or temporarily. Many of your benefits will be the same no matter if your injury is permanent or temporary. Both temporary and permanent injuries will likely keep you out of work for at least some time, and you will receive two-thirds of your weekly wage for that time, up to a maximum amount. Both will pay for the medical bills that result from your injury. Both may be paid for up to 500 weeks. And both will provide benefits if you are well enough to return to work in some capacity, but aren’t able to earn as much as you did before, whether that’s because you’re forced to work fewer hours or simply aren’t physically able to do your old job.
However, temporary benefits are often much harder to receive, and employers will often present a wide range of exhibits, medical records, and expert testimony to try to show that your claim isn’t as serious as it really is. At Elrod Pope Law Firm, we have over 80 years of experience representing South Carolinians with their workers’ compensation claims. We will fight for you and make sure that you get the benefits you deserve.
Many injuries may qualify for workers’ compensation, and as a result, there are different types of benefits that you can receive. No matter whether your injury is the result of negligence or not, mental or physical, permanent or short-term, you may still be eligible for benefits. The benefits summarized below are available through the workers’ compensation system:
Temporary Partial Disability—Paid to employees who are able to work, but can’t return to the same job or the same hours they worked before the injury. Temporary disability benefits are designed to cover you during the recovery period, when you’re healing from and receiving treatment for your injury, but not yet fully healed.
Temporary Total Disability—Payments of two-thirds of your average weekly wage while you are unable to work or your employer does not provide work within your work restrictions.
Permanent Partial Disability—These claims are made by people who suffer an injury that they will never fully recover from, even if they are able to return to work in some capacity. These losses can be tremendous over the course of a lifetime, and we can help you recover them.
Permanent Total Disability—Like with permanent partial disability, these claims are made by people who will never recover from their injuries. However, these injuries are also more severe, to the point that the employee will never again be fit for a full-time occupation. Again, your losses may be enormous, and we are available to help you if you’ve suffered permanent total disability.
Disfigurement and Mutilation—Even if your ability to work isn’t affected by your injury, you may be able to recover benefits for scarring or mutilation.
Attendant Care—A family member or loved one may need to provide in-home care or supervision for the injured worker and serve as the caretaker. In some instances, the family member or loved one may be entitled to compensation.
Death—The most serious of claims, it can also be one of the most difficult to deal with. If a loved one has passed away due to an on-the-job accident, don’t hesitate to contact us.