- Workers' Compensation
Workers are often comforted by the knowledge that Florida’s workers’ compensation system will protect them if they suffer an on-the-job injury or illness. Some people recover within a few weeks and they’re able to return to their previous job. However, others are too unwell to work even after several months at home. Employees who are facing an indefinite period away from the workplace are usually especially concerned about when their benefits will end. A lot depends on the nature of your injury and how your recovery is expected to progress. Therefore, you should contact a Florida workers’ comp lawyer to ensure you’re treated fairly.
At Work Injury Rights, we draw on our experience and resources to help workers like you navigate the workers’ comp system and get the benefits they deserve. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at how long you can expect to get workers’ comp checks in various circumstances.
Timeline for Workers’ Compensation Benefits
If you’re eligible for income benefits, you won’t get paid for the first week. Workers are usually expected to use their sick leave or vacation days for this. Benefits kick in on the eighth day. However, if you end up missing 21 days or more, you’ll receive compensation for the first seven days. You should start receiving benefits within 21 days of first reporting your illness or injury.
The insurance adjusters will analyze your medical reports and the nature of your job to decide on the duration of your benefits. Workers compensation disability benefits fall into one of four categories:
- Temporary total disability (TTD)
- Temporary partial disability (TPD)
- Permanent total disability (PTD)
- Permanent partial disability (PPD)
You’ll be awarded TTD benefits if you’re temporarily incapable of doing any type of work. If you can perform limited duties for the time being, you’ll be assigned TPD benefits. Meanwhile, if your injury or illness is so severe that you are completely and permanently unable to work, you should receive PTD benefits. People who permanently lose some of their capacity to work receive PPD benefits.
Time Limits on Benefits
Florida imposes various time limits depending on the type of benefits you’re getting. In the case of temporary disability, you can receive up to 104 weeks of benefits. If you reach overall maximum medical improvement (MMI), your TTD benefits will stop even if 104 weeks haven’t yet passed. If your doctor determines that there’s no other treatment that will improve your condition, they will declare MMI. However, when you’ve received 104 weeks of benefits, the payments will stop even if you haven’t reached MMI.
Meanwhile, if you suffer a permanent partial disability, your doctor will assign you an impairment rating when you reach MMI. This rating will inform how many weeks of benefits you can receive. If you suffer a total permanent disability, you may receive funds until you reach the age of 75 unless you are ineligible for disability benefits under Social Security. You may also be eligible for weekly supplemental benefits until the age of 62. It can be difficult to determine if you’re receiving fair compensation if you don’t know the law. That’s why it’s highly recommended that you seek guidance from an attorney.
In addition to disability benefits, you may be getting medical benefits to cover the cost of doctor’s visits and other care. These benefits will last for as long as you need care as a result of your workplace injury or illness. However, you’ll only be able to claim benefits if you see an authorized doctor at least once per year to prove you’re actively managing your condition.
In some cases, injured or ill workers can negotiate a lump-sum settlement instead of receiving workers’ comp benefits indefinitely. If you’ve been unable to work because of an injury and you’d like to settle with the insurance company, you should consult with a Florida workers’ comp lawyer. An attorney can help you to ensure your settlement is fair.
Discuss Your Florida Workers’ Compensation Case with The Attorneys at Work Injury Rights!
If you’re unsure about an aspect of the workers’ compensation system or you’re finding it hard to get the benefits you need and deserve, contact our workers’ comp attorneys in Florida. We’ll help you to understand how the system should work and how long you should expect to receive benefits. We work on a contingency basis so we don’t get paid unless you do. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
