Injured workers oftentimes need help with their medical expenses and lost wages. Workers’ compensation benefits help to provide injured workers some of the relief they need which is why workers and their families should be familiar with the different types of benefits available and how to obtain them.
Different workers’ compensation benefits available in Pennsylvania
Several different types of benefits are available through workers’ compensation including:
- Health care expenses – health care expenses can include doctor’s visits, surgeries, medicine, medical equipment and lab tests.
- Lost wages for disability – injured workers may be able to recover partial disability payments if they are unable to return to work at full capacity; total disability payments if they are unable to return to work; and permanent injury payments to compensate an injured worker who has lost a body part. Partial disability payments are limited to 500 weeks maximum, while total disability benefits are not subject to a limit.
- Death benefits – death benefits can be paid to a spouse or minor dependents if their loved one dies from a work-related injury or illness within 300 weeks following the injury.
Steps to obtain workers’ compensation benefits
There are important timelines to follow to make a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. Injured workers have 21 days to provide notice to their employer of a work-related injury. Following 120 days, the claim for workers’ compensation benefits is time-barred. The injured worker has 3 years to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits seeking benefits to assist with their injury. Knowing what benefits may be available and how to navigate the workers’ compensation process to receive them is information every injured worker in Pennsylvania should have.