Question

What are your views on workers' compensation?

Answer 1

Every workers’ compensation system provides certain payments in the event of a work-related death of a worker.  The expectation that workers’ compensation insurance will cover the full cost of a funeral and burial of an injured worker, however, is not the reality in all jurisdictions. Most commonly, the amount to cover funeral and burial expenses is a separate benefit from payments or compensation that might be available to survivors and dependents.  Where there are no survivors or dependents, the funeral or burial amount may be the only workers’ compensation payment made with respect to the work-related death.  Statutory dollar limits or policies that exclude items connected with funeral or burial costs result in many jurisdictions falling far short of coverage of the full cost of a funeral and burial.

The law provides several types of workers' compensation benefits-

Payments for lost wages- Wage-loss benefits are available if it is determined that you are totally disabled and unable to work or partially disabled and receiving wages less than your pre-injury earnings. Please see the Total and Partial Disability Benefits Status section for further information as to disability status.

Death Benefits- If the injury results in death, surviving dependents may be entitled to benefits.

Specific Loss Benefits- If you have lost the permanent use of all or part of your thumb, finger, hand, arm, leg, foot, toe, sight, and hearing or have a serious and permanent disfigurement on your head, face or neck, you may be entitled to a specific loss award.

Medical Care- Employers are responsible for advising workers of their rights and duties under Section 306(f.1) (1)(i) of the Act. The written notice of these rights and duties is to be provided to the employee at the time of injury or as soon after the injury as is practicable.

In the event of a work-related illness or injury, you are entitled, if covered under the Act, to the payment of related reasonable surgical and medical services rendered by a physician or other health care provider.