What workers’ comp benefits are available for me?

It’s stressful getting injured on the job, especially if you are living paycheck to paycheck. The idea of missing work to heal while simultaneously coming up with the money to pay for medical care is exhausting. It may even seem impossible.

That’s why workers’ compensation exists. Workers’ comp is available for injuries and ailments that were caused specifically by your work or in the workplace. Here are some of the ways workers’ comp helps employees:

Wage replacement

Workers’ compensation offers temporary and permanent disability benefits. Temporary disability benefits pay for lost wages for a time period when you couldn’t work, and permanent disability benefits pay you in the event you cannot recover completely. There are also supplemental job displacement benefits, which are vouchers that help pay for any retraining or skill enhancement you may need if you don’t fully recover and can’t continue working the job you had before.

Other monetary benefits are available in the event your loved one died in their workplace. Death benefits are typically paid to a spouse, children or other dependents.

Medical care

Any treatment you may need as a result of a job-related injury or illness should be covered by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance policy.

While it may be difficult to go to the doctor and get a bill without immediately having the funds to pay for it, you can still file a workers’ compensation claim and often the hospital or doctor’s office will work with you to hold off collections, knowing that reimbursement is coming through workers’ comp.

If you are injured at work, don’t struggle on your own. You have the right to seek compensation for your pain and have the best recovery possible to get back to work and on with your life.