Having to temporarily take time away from work to recover from an injury can impact your finances. Maintaining adequate income to support your needs may require the support of workers’ compensation benefits.
Seeing that you get the maximum benefit from this resource can help you come out on top. Here are some things that you can do to optimize the benefits available to you.
Timely response
An unexpected injury at work can leave you in shock. You may have a difficult time trying to make sense of how you received such a serious injury while performing the same tasks you do every day. Mixed emotions and not understanding the process of filing a claim with your employer may delay your response. If you wait too long, the statute of limitations may prevent you from collecting workers’ compensation benefits at all.
As soon as you receive adequate medical attention and have the wherewithal to discuss your situation, immediately contact your employer. Provide full disclosure about the incident that led to your injuries including the location, date and time, contributing hazards and any witness accounts. Your timely response to filing a claim can prevent the disappointment of waiting too long.
Attention to detail
Approval for benefits can provide much-needed reassurance. According to Employer.gov, your workers’ compensation benefits may cover a number of resources including vocational rehabilitation, wage replacements and medical treatment. Depending on your situation, your accident may have required immediate aid or emergency response. However, beyond that, make sure you know which providers are in-network with your employer’s workers’ compensation program. If you use your own doctors, your employer may refuse to cover the costs.
Thoroughly reading through your employer’s workers’ compensation benefits can help you plan your next steps. Your attention to detail and timely response can improve your chances of an approved claim so you can get financial assistance when you need it most.
