3 Categories of Workers Compensation Claim Benefits

In New Jersey, when an office employee or worker gets injured while on the job or contracts an illness or medical condition, they are entitled to claim workers’ compensation benefits. There are different types of benefits, and the one you are entitled to depends on the nature of the injury. 

Expert lawyers know how to guide you to claim workers compensation and help you get what you deserve. Since claims are time-sensitive (you need to apply within the deadline), it is not advisable to waste any time. You need to contact a personal injury lawyer immediately to ensure you get the compensation that’s due to you. 

There are three categories of workers’ compensation claim benefits:

Medical Benefits

In case you have sustained a work-related injury or have fallen ill in the course of your work, which requires medical treatment, the costs for treatment have to be borne by your employer. 

The employer has to be self-insured or have a regular insurance provider who covers all their employees. However, it is the employer’s right to choose their medical providers, and an injured person has to go to that provider to have the work-related injury treated. 

The expenses covered under medical benefits include:

• Hospital Services
• Prescriptions
• Medical Treatment

Permanent Total Benefits

When a job-related injury or illness causes a permanent disability, the worker may not be in a position to return to gainful employment. Under such circumstances, you are entitled to permanent total benefits. The benefits are calculated at 70 percent of the employee’s average weekly pay. 

Please note that the worker shall be entitled only to what falls between the legal minimum and maximum amounts. The team of legal experts will know how to help you to claim the compensation and get the full benefits you are entitled to legally. 

You are entitled to 450 weeks’ permanent total benefits initially. On the expiration of this time frame, if the employee finds that the disability persists, they need to provide evidence to continue receiving the benefits. 

Permanent Partial Benefits

If you sustain any work-related injury or contract an illness that leads to permanent impairment, you are eligible to apply for permanent partial benefits. However, the benefits you are eligible to depend on the level of functional loss. Once this temporary disability gets resolved, you are entitled to permanent partial benefits, which are paid weekly. 

Temporary Total Benefits

As the name signifies, any work-related injury lasting for more than seven days entitles you to temporary total benefits. These benefits are calculated from the first missed day of work on a retroactive basis. Temporary total benefits also cover 70 percent of the employee’s average weekly wages. However, the amount has to fall between the minimum and maximum rates.

You are entitled to temporary total benefits until you:

• Are able to return to work
• Attain the level of maximum medical improvement
• Attain the mandatory 400-week limit set by the law

Death Benefits

When a work-related injury or illness causes death, the dependents are eligible to claim death benefits. 

• Weekly death benefits are calculated at 70 percent of the deceased worker’s wages, though it has to be within the legal maximum limit. 
• $3,500 is paid towards the funeral expenses. 

Summing it Up

The important thing is for workers to know their rights when it comes to work-related injury or illnesses. Time is of the essence; hence applying for compensation through the proper channels is crucial.