Not all workplace injuries are the same. Some incidents are relatively minor, and the victim needs just a few months off of work to recover. Sadly, other victims never fully recover from their on-the-job accidents. They may become permanently disabled and never work again. Some injuries are the result of years of repetitive or difficult labor; others occur suddenly in a terrible accident.
Just as there are different forms of workplace injury, Texas’ workers’ compensation applicants can receive some or all of four different types of benefits. These benefits are:
- Income benefits. These are meant to replace a portion of the injured worker’s income while he or she is recovering from his or her injuries. There are four types of income benefits: temporary income benefits; impairment income benefits; supplemental income benefits; and lifetime income benefits. Which one the worker qualifies for depends on the nature and extent of his or her work-related condition.
- Medical benefits. Workers’ compensation also helps victims’ finances by covering “reasonable and necessary” medical care and treatment. Remember that only compensable work-related injuries and illness will be paid for this way.
- Burial benefits and death benefits. When the victim dies as a result of a work-related injury or illness, workers’ compensation can pay some of the victim’s funeral expenses, and partially compensate the victim’s dependent family members for their lost household income.
Applying for workers’ comp can be confusing, and a mistake can lead to a rejection, even when you have a legitimate claim. For help with your claim, or with a third party claim, contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney.