According to the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), the four types of workers’ compensation benefits are: medical and wage replacement benefits, rehabilitation benefits, and other benefits (e.g., death benefits).
Because most Illinois employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance, an employee who suffered an on-the-job injury may be entitled to recover some or all of these benefits (except for death benefits if they survived the incident).
If a work accident resulted in an employee’s death, certain surviving family members may be eligible to receive death benefits. If you suffered a work-related injury and you are looking for a more in-depth explanation of the four types of workers’ compensation benefits, read on for more information.
What Types of Medical Care Are Covered By Workers’ Compensation Insurance?
Workers’ compensation will generally pay for most types of medical care an injured worker needs, including:
- Hospital visits
- Surgery
- Doctor’s visits
- Medication and medical devices
- Physical therapy or chiropractic care
Check with your employer’s insurer before assuming care will be covered, as you may be required to choose from a list of approved physicians for treatment. However, you may be able to seek medical attention from your primary care physician.
How Much Can an Injured Worker Collect in Wage Replacement Benefits?
Wage replacement benefits are another type of workers’ compensation benefit injured workers may be able to obtain if their injuries limit or prevent them from working. Sometimes, wage replacement benefits are only provided if a worker misses several days of work, and their doctor has determined they cannot return to work or can only return with light duty.
Although wage replacement benefits won’t pay a worker the hourly wage or salary they were earning prior to the work accident, it will provide them with a portion of their wages. This way, the injured worker still has some income while they take time away from work and focus on recovering.
How Much Does Workers’ Compensation Pay in Wage Replacement Benefits?
According to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC), how much a worker receives in wage replacement benefits depends on whether they are receiving temporary total disability (TTD), temporary partial disability (TPD), or permanent partial disability (PPD), permanent total disability (PTD).
- TTD benefits: Temporary total disability means that the employee is totally unable to work for a period of time. Injured workers can receive 66.6 percent of their average weekly wage.
- TPD benefits: Temporary partial disability means that the employee is able to work “light duty, on a part-time or full-time basis, and [earn] less than [they] would earn.” Injured workers can receive 66.6 percent of the difference between what they were earning before the injury and what they are currently earning.
- PPD benefits: There are several types of PPD benefits. Our team can explain what you might be able to receive.
- PTD benefits: Injured workers eligible for PTD benefits can receive 66.6 percent of their average weekly wage for the rest of their lives.
How Long Can an Injured Worker Receive Wage Replacement Benefits?
In Illinois, the type of wage replacement benefit determines how long an injured employee can receive benefits.
If you want to find out more about wage replacement benefits, a workers’ compensation lawyer at our firm can help.
Rehabilitation Benefits
Sometimes, after suffering a work injury, you may not be able to return to your same position, especially if your injury was serious and your job required you to perform strenuous work.
If you cannot return to your position and your employer doesn’t have an available job for you that requires less physical activity, the IWCC may be able to help you seek employment elsewhere.
Death Benefits
If your loved one suffered fatal injuries as a result of engaging in a work-related accident, you may be eligible to receive death benefits from workers’ compensation.
Generally, it is only the decedent’s dependents who are entitled to recover these benefits. They will usually pay for things like burial costs, your loved one’s medical bills, and a few other costs that might have arisen as a result of their death.
If your loved one was killed in a work accident or contracted a terminal illness from work, a workers’ compensation lawyer on our team can determine if you qualify for death benefits.
The Kryder Law Group, LLC Helps Injured Workers and Their Families
If you were recently involved in a work accident or contracted an illness from working, The Kryder Law Group, LLC can review the circumstances surrounding your incident and decide if you are eligible to receive any of the workers’ compensation benefits listed above.
In addition, our lawyers will help you with getting your claim filed and can even intervene if your employer or their insurer refuses to provide you with benefits.
To find out more about how The Kryder Law Group, LLC can help with your workers’ compensation case, contact us today at (312) 598-0982.
(312) 223-1700