Workers’ compensation offers two main types of protection for employees. Workers are eligible for medical coverage from the moment they get hurt. The full medical coverage they receive can pay for all of their necessary treatment, without any copays, coinsurance or deductibles.
They can also qualify for disability benefits when they cannot work due to injuries or illnesses caused by their work. Employees may be eligible for both temporary disability benefits while they recover from an injury or undergo treatment, as well as permanent disability benefits if they cannot continue working in the same career.
Temporary disability benefits, unlike medical coverage, do not always take effect immediately. When do workers qualify for wage replacement benefits after a work injury or a diagnosis related to their employment?
Workers must miss three days of work at least
There is an expectation that workers can use paid leave or take a brief unpaid absence in cases involving truly minor injuries. However, if an injury is serious enough to leave someone unable to work for the better part of a week, then they may qualify for temporary disability benefits.
The benefits begin after the third day of missed employment. Workers’ compensation provides up to two-thirds of their usual pay, which is subject to a state maximum benefit amount. Workers can qualify for coverage for those first three days if their inability to work lasts 14 days or if a hospital admits them overnight.
Learning the rules that apply to workers’ compensation benefits and having support when filing a claim can make a major difference. Injured employees who must miss a substantial amount of work may need help understanding their rights and seeking the coverage they require, and that’s okay.
