Workers’ Comp Benefits to Help You Heal and Recover
If you suffer an injury on the job in New Jersey, you may be worried about medical expenses and other bills, especially if you cannot work. Fortunately, through workers’ compensation, you can obtain the benefits you need for your recovery. However, workers’ compensation can be confusing, and navigating the legal system alone can be stressful. That’s why having our NJ workers’ compensation lawyer on your side is essential.
This article explains the types of benefits that you may receive after you file a workers’ compensation claim. Depending on the extent of your injuries, you may be eligible to receive three different types of workers’ compensation benefits: temporary, permanent total, and permanent partial incapacity.
Quick Summary:
- If you get hurt on the job in New Jersey, workers’ compensation can help cover your medical expenses and lost income. Since it is a no-fault system in New Jersey, employees can receive benefits regardless of who caused the accident. Workers do not need to prove negligence to get benefits. However, there are limitations. If you were injured doing something outside your regular job duties, you might not be eligible for compensation.
- There are three main types of benefits: medical benefits, temporary total disability (TTD) benefits, and permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits. Medical benefits cover necessary treatments, such as doctor visits, surgeries, and prescriptions. TTD benefits provide 70% of the worker’s pre-injury weekly wages if they miss more than seven days of work due to their injury, and these benefits last until the worker returns to work, reaches maximum medical improvement, or receives benefits for 400 weeks.
- Permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits are for those who can still perform some job functions but are impaired, with compensation based on a percentage of either a scheduled or non-scheduled loss. Scheduled loss benefits cover specific body parts like arms, legs, hands, feet, eyes, and ears, while non-scheduled loss benefits cover injuries to areas like the back, neck, or internal organs. Permanent total disability (PTD) benefits are for workers who cannot return to gainful employment, providing weekly benefits for an initial period of 450 weeks.
What is Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation is an insurance type that helps employees when they are hurt at work or develop an occupational illness. It pays for their medical treatment, rehabilitation, and part of their lost income.
Because workers’ compensation in New Jersey is a no-fault system, workers can get benefits no matter who caused the accident. The injured or sick worker does not need to prove negligence to collect benefits. However, the coverage is not absolute. If an employee was doing something outside their usual work duties when they got hurt, they might not be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.
What are the Three Types of Workers Compensation Benefits in New Jersey?
Workers’ compensation benefits in New Jersey cover several key areas to help you if you are injured or become ill due to your job. There are three main types of workers’ compensation benefits: medical benefits, temporary total disability benefits, and permanent partial disability benefits. Here’s what you need to know about each type:
Medical Expense Benefits
Getting the medical care you need is crucial after a work injury. Workers who suffer injuries or illnesses while on the job may be eligible to recover benefits to cover medical treatment costs.
Medical benefits cover the necessary, reasonable, and related medical care for your work-related injury or illness. Your employer’s insurance company, or your employer if they are self-insured, will pay for these services. That includes:
- doctor visits
- medical treatment
- hospitalization services
- emergency care
- surgeries
- prescriptions
- rehabilitation
Temporary Total Disability Benefits
One of the main benefits workers’ compensation offers is temporary total disability (TTD) benefits. If your job accident causes you to miss more than seven days of work, you will be eligible for temporary total incapacity benefits.
Remember that these benefits are only 70% of your weekly paycheck before your accident. It is also important to understand that temporary total incapacity benefits last until you return to work, reach maximum medical improvement, or have received 400 weeks of benefits.
Permanent Disability Benefits
Upon reaching maximum medical improvement, your physician will examine you to determine if you have suffered any permanent disability due to the injury. If you cannot earn at your pre-injury level, despite going through physical rehabilitation, you may have your benefits extended for the duration of your disability as a Permanent Partial Disability award. Catastrophic injuries, such as the loss of both eyes, legs, arms, hands, feet, etc., are automatically classified as permanent disabilities.
Permanent disability benefits provide up to 70 percent of your gross weekly wage. They fall under two categories:
Permanent Partial Disability Benefits
You may be eligible to receive partial benefits if your injury has left you disabled, but still capable of performing some job functions. The amount you may receive depends on three factors:
- your pre-injury wages,
- the affected body part,
- and the level of impairment.
On the Department of Labor and Workforce site, you can find the exact benefit rates for certain injuries. A doctor will then evaluate your impairment and give a permanent disability rating. Disability compensation is based on a percentage of a scheduled or a non-scheduled loss.
- Scheduled Loss: Scheduled loss benefits cover injuries to specific body parts listed in a schedule set by the state of New Jersey. These parts include your arms, legs, hands, feet, eyes, and ears. If you lose or seriously injure one of these body parts, you might be eligible for scheduled loss benefits.
- Non-Scheduled Loss: Non-scheduled loss benefits cover injuries to areas like the back, neck, or internal organs. These benefits are based on how much the injury affects your ability to work and earn a living, rather than a specific body part.
Permanent Total Disability Benefits
Sometimes, when a work injury or illness prevents a worker from returning to any gainful employment, they may be entitled to receive permanent total disability benefits. These weekly benefits are provided initially for 450 weeks. These benefits continue beyond the initial 450 weeks provided that the injured worker can show that they remain unable to earn wages.
Call Our Shrewsbury NJ Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Now!
A work-related injury or illness can seriously affect your life, including your health, job, money, and overall well-being. New Jersey’s workers’ compensation program offers benefits to help you heal and get back on track. If you’re facing challenges with your workers’ compensation claim or need more information, our NJ workers’ compensation lawyer at Kreizer Law is here to help. We will clearly explain each type of benefit so you know what to expect. We can help you file your workers’ compensation claim correctly to avoid delays or denials.
Our personal injury law firm provides dedicated counsel to injured workers throughout the Garden State. No matter if you are seeking temporary benefits or looking to appeal a denial, you can count on us to advocate aggressively for your rights. We will guide you through the process and fight for the benefits you deserve.
Contact us now for a free consultation and let us help you understand and claim your workers’ compensation benefits in New Jersey. We’re here to answer your questions and guide you through the workers’ compensation process. We will be with you every step of the way. Aside from worker’s compensation and personal injury, we can also help you deal with medical malpractice, sexual abuse, wrongful conviction, and nursing home abuse cases in New Jersey.
