What workers’ compensation benefits does California provide?

If you are an employee in the state of California, you will likely qualify for workers’ compensation benefits if you sustain an injury on the job.

How does this work and what kind of benefits can you expect?

First steps

Tell your supervisor about your injury promptly. If you have an injury or condition that develops over time, inform your supervisor as soon as you believe your job is making the problem worse. Your employer must provide you with a workers’ compensation claim form to complete within one day after you report the injury or condition.

Five basic benefits

The workers’ compensation benefits you may receive will depend on the severity of your injury or illness and include:

• Coverage for your medical expenses
• Temporary disability benefits for partial wage replacement while you are recovering
• Permanent disability benefits that provide payments if you cannot go back to work
• Job retraining or skill enhancement pay
• Death benefits available to your spouse and other dependents if you should die due to your job-related injury or illness

You can rely on an advocate to help you navigate the claim process and ensure that you receive maximum compensation.

About the MPN

You should be aware that some California employers have an approved MPN. The network of medical and healthcare providers (MPN) operates with the approval of the California Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC). If the company you work for has an approved MPN, you must choose a doctor who is part of this network and who specializes in treating the kind of injury or condition you have. After your initial visit, you may choose another MPN healthcare provider if you prefer.