What Are Workers’ Compensation Benefits? And Other FAQs

Overhead View of Injured Man With Bandage Hand Filling Insurance Claim Form on Clipboard

Workers’ compensation benefits provide critical financial support and medical coverage for workers who suffer job-related injuries or illnesses. Benefits include coverage for medical expenses, lost wages, partial disability, vocational rehabilitation, and even death expenses. Claiming benefits requires you to promptly report injuries, seek medical attention, and file the appropriate paperwork. It’s best to hire a workers’ compensation attorney to significantly improve outcomes, especially in complex situations such as denied claims, severe injuries, or employer retaliation.

Depending on the severity of the injury, getting hurt on the job can mean a loss of income, expensive medical bills, and other big financial blows. Workers’ compensation helps lessen or even eliminate the financial hardship that a workplace accident can lead to. Understandably, one of the most common questions asked about the coverage is, “What are the benefits I can expect if I’m approved to receive workers’ comp?” Benefits can include coverage for medical expenses, necessary rehabilitation, lost wages, or even death expenses.

Let’s take a closer look at your possible benefits should you qualify to receive workers’ compensation.

What Are Workers’ Compensation Benefits?

Workers’ compensation benefits provide financial support and medical coverage to workers who become injured or ill while performing their job duties.

Benefits can include:

Medical Expenses

Injured workers should always seek medical care to ensure their injuries are examined, documented, and—most importantly—treated. Depending on the medical care required for optimal recovery, this can lead to expensive medical bills.

Workers’ compensation effectively covers a range of medical expenses, including:

Doctor visits
Hospital stays
Surgeries
Prescriptions
Physical therapy
Medical devices

Lost Wages (Disability Benefits)

Being injured can mean being out of work for however long it takes to recover, which ultimately means being without income for some time. If the injury is severe enough, it can lead to permanent disability, preventing the injured worker from making money now and in the future.

Disability benefits provide partial wage replacement if you’re unable to work temporarily or permanently.

Lost wage benefits are paid at a rate of two-thirds of your average weekly salary at the time of the accident, so long as the rate does not exceed the temporary total disability cap of $800 or the temporary partial disability cap of $533.

For instance, if you were making $1,500/week prior to your accident, your two-thirds rate would be $1,000. However, that exceeds both caps in place. Should your injury cause temporary total disability, your benefit would be $800, the temporary total disability cap.

Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) Benefits

closeup of hand with amputated thumb. For some, an accident at work can lead to an injury that permanently affects the employee’s physical functionalities or capabilities to an extent but does not prevent them from being able to work. In such cases, employees can qualify for permanent partial disability benefits.

Types of permanent partial disability benefits can include:

Hearing loss
Vision loss
Nerve damage
Spinal disc herniation
Amputation of or loss of function in a finger, hand, foot, or limb

You may qualify for PPD if you sustain an injury that leads to a percentage of impairment but does not entirely prevent you from performing your pre-accident duties or finding a new role you are now more suited for following the injury.

Similar to temporary total disability and temporary partial disability, PPD benefits are paid at a rate of two-thirds of your weekly salary prior to the accident, and there is a $800 maximum that employees can receive.

Vocational Rehabilitation

Some injuries are severe enough that the injured employee is not able to perform the same duties they were able to perform before the injury. In these cases, vocational rehabilitation can help the injured worker re-obtain their pre-injury capabilities or find a job that they can perform in their post-injury condition.

Vocational rehabilitation enables the injured to stay in the workforce, if possible, by helping them rebuild and/or find new, more suitable employment.

Death Benefits

In some tragic cases, an injury can be severe enough to lead to death. Should the worst occur and a work-related injury or illness results in death, workers’ compensation provides financial support to the deceased’s dependents through death benefits.

Who Qualifies for Workers’ Compensation?

Nearly all employers are required by state law to carry workers’ compensation insurance because you never know when a work-related mishap may occur. Most employees in Georgia—especially those in high-risk, physically demanding jobs like construction, manufacturing, trucking, or warehouse work—are eligible for workers’ compensation through their employer.

Generally, if you are injured or become ill while performing job-related duties, you qualify, and you do not need to prove fault or negligence to receive benefits.

You can check to see if your employer carries workers’ compensation by visiting the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation site and performing a coverage verification search.

How Do I Claim Workers’ Compensation Benefits?

There are a few crucial steps to take following an injury or illness to receive workers’ compensation benefits:

Seek Medical Care

Seek medical attention from a qualified provider promptly following your injury or as soon as you notice symptoms of an illness. Not only will you start your recovery journey, but you will also be able to thoroughly document your injuries or condition for the reporting phase.

Report Your Injury

Notify your employer about the injury or illness as soon as you are able. In Georgia, workers are required to report within 30 days after the injury or noticing symptoms. If they wait too long, they may not qualify to receive benefits.

When reporting, it can be helpful to present medical documents that prove the injury or illness.

Collect Documentation

Keep your medical documents and your copy of the accident report for your records. If your employer does not provide a report, write out the details of the incident and the injury received, make a copy, and present one of the copies to your employer. Ask them to sign your copy to acknowledge they have seen it.

File a Claim

Your employer should present you with the paperwork needed to file the workers’ compensation claim. Complete the required paperwork provided by your employer. Follow up with your employer regarding the claim to ensure everything goes through.

At this stage, the insurance company will evaluate the claim and decide whether to approve or deny it.

Should your claim be denied, or should the insurance carrier decide that you receive fewer benefits than you deserve, you have a right to appeal.

Do I Need a Workers’ Compensation Attorney?

If you find yourself in a position to file a workers’ compensation claim, it’s wise to hire a workers’ compensation attorney to ensure your case is taken seriously and you get the benefits you deserve.

A workers’ compensation lawyer can come in handy if:

Your employer or insurer denies your claim.
Your injury results in permanent disability.
You’re facing significant pushback or delays in receiving benefits.
Your employer retaliates against you for filing a claim.

A skilled workers’ compensation attorney is experienced at navigating Georgia’s complex laws, protecting clients’ rights, and ensuring their clients receive fair benefits.

How Long Does Workers’ Compensation Last?

The duration of your workers’ comp benefits depends on a number of factors, including:

The severity of your injury
The likelihood of recovery
Georgia laws

Benefits could last weeks, months, years, or even indefinitely if you become permanently disabled because of your injury.

Understanding Your Rights

If your employer carries workers’ compensation coverage, then it is your right as an employee to access the benefits should you sustain an injury or develop an illness while properly performing your job duties.

If you or a family member needs assistance filing a workers’ compensation claim, consulting an experienced workers’ compensation attorney, like those at Buzzell, Welsh & Hill, can make all the difference.

If you have been hurt on the job and are curious about the workers’ compensation benefits that you qualify for, talk to Macon’s Workers’ compensation lawyers at Buzzell, Welsh & Hill: 478-217-2072.

Our attorneys are in the business of fighting for our clients to receive the workers’ compensation benefits they deserve. Injuries can range from frustrating to devastating, but regardless of the severity, our team works diligently to bring you the financial support you need to get back on your feet and afford life following injury.

Tell us about your case today: 478-217-2072

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