If you have ever been injured at work, you may have heard of workers’ compensation – a system that provides benefits to workers who get injured on the job.
But you may be wondering how long those benefits will last and what will happen if you don’t fully recover.
Temporary vs. permanent disability
Workers’ comp ensures that workers receive medical care and financial compensation after a work-related injury or illness.
The duration of worker’s compensation benefits can vary depending on several factors, including the severity of the injury, the type of work you do and the type of disability.
In California, workers comp typically provides benefits for 104 weeks (2 years). However, temporary total disability (TTD) doesn’t fully cover lost wages. It will only pay ⅔ of your salary, but it’s non-taxable.
If you don’t fully recover from your injury and cannot work at your previous salary level, you may be eligible for permanent disability benefits. These benefits provide long-term support to employees and their families.
Furthermore, workers comp will pay for retraining through the Supplemental Job Displacement Benefit (SJDB). This is done through a voucher for further education or learning new skills.
If you are injured at work, it is critical to make sure you receive fair compensation by doing the following:
- Report the injury to your employer as soon as possible
- Seek medical treatment for your injury and follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations
- Provide your employer with regular updates on your recovery
- Keep documentation of your medical appointments and conversations with your employer and workers’ comp provider.
If you are having issues getting your workers’ comp benefits, you may want to work with someone who can help you get fair compensation for your work-related injury.