Will I be paid if I lose time from work
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko
Getting injured while you were performing your job might be stressful enough as it is, but when you also miss work days because of that injury, is there any way to pay the bills? According to Macon workers comp lawyer Hansford, injured workers are entitled to weekly income benefits if they cannot work for more than seven days in a row.
How much you get and when depends on some factors, but let’s dive straight in and find out everything you need to know about getting paid for lost wages due to a work injury in Macon, Georgia!
Workers’ compensation pay for lost wages
Some injuries are more dire than others and might hinder your work life for more than a week. In this case, you need an income to keep up with the medical bills and ensure your recovery. Usually, your first check from your workers’ compensation claim should be mailed or transferred to your bank account within 21 days after the first day you could not work.
You will receive about two-thirds of your average weekly wages, but it can vary. For example, if you suffer a temporary partial disability, you might receive a lesser weekly compensation than you would if you suffered a temporary total disability. The formula used to calculate your weekly wage benefits during your disability period is set under Georgia’s code OCGA 34-9-260 and includes your salary, tips, housing, food, hourly pay, or other benefits.
An authorized physician will be responsible for declaring your work disability on the seventh day of missing work. In some cases, your employer can choose to pay you your full wages during your disability period.
If there are delays in your compensation benefits, your employer or the insurer will be subjected to a 15% penalty.
Benefiting from workers’ compensation weekly benefits timeframe
Depending on your injuries and treatment, victims that suffer from a temporary total disability and cannot work can benefit from workers’ compensation benefits for up to seven years and eight months or four hundred weeks.
If your injury is considered catastrophic, there is no limit. Once you recover enough to perform light-duty activities at work, you will be labeled as suffering from a temporary partial disability, and your wage benefits will be adjusted accordingly.
In this category, you can benefit from the weekly workers’ compensation benefits for six years, six months, or three hundred fifty weeks, but the clock starts ticking from the date of your actual injury.
When you will need a workers’ compensation attorney
If you find yourself unable to work and your employer doesn’t pay for your work injuries or you have to deal with an insurance company that disputes your workers’ compensation claim, your deserved weekly money will stop coming.
In this situation, you need to solve the issue as soon as possible because you already have enough troubles on your hands. Contact a workers’ compensation claim immediately to solve the issues. They can help you with your claim and receive the compensation that you deserve without delays.
