Workers’ compensation is a program that helps care for the wellbeing of employees and provides a surety that they will be taken care of if the unexpected occurs. Injured employees can expect medical expenses, disability, and vocational rehabilitation to be paid for.
Medical expenses
Medical expenses are the bills that arise from an on-the-job injury. These might include doctor bills, hospital bills, medical treatment bills, and many others. These expenses can be covered by workers’ compensation. Some states require you to go to a certain medical provider for care, while some benefits allow the employee to choose their own medical provider.
Disability pay
Disability pay is money that covers what you would normally be making if you were working during the time of your injury or illness. If you become permanently disabled and unable to work, there is total disability, which means that the disability pay will not stop coming. This money is computed to as high as two-thirds of your pre-injury weekly wage, without exceeding the Utah average weekly wage. There is also an additional $5 for your spouse and $5 for each dependent child, up to four children.
Vocational rehabilitation
Vocational rehabilitation happens when your injury is severe and there is a need to physically work yourself back up to full health. Workers’ compensation covers this expense, as well as any retraining needed for the duties and responsibilities that fall under your position at your job.
In addition to these benefits, your state may also outline other benefits that fall under workers’ compensation. In most states, for example, workers’ compensation programs provide death benefits to family members of a deceased worker who were financially dependent on that worker. These benefits compensate family members for the loss of financial support, and they are usually calculated as a percentage of the deceased worker’s earnings. When in doubt about workers’ compensation coverage, it is best to consult an experienced workers’ compensation attorney.