Breakdown of Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Being injured on the job can be overwhelming and stressful. Many workers in Nebraska have little to no experience with the legal world. However, after an on-the-job injury, workers are thrust into a complex realm of navigating the workers’ compensation process, which involves a new language and set of rules. Acronyms are flying everywhere, and attorneys forget that many workers do not encounter this process and these terms every single day. Here is what you need to know about the different types of benefits and payments you may be entitled to following a work injury:
What Does Workers’ Compensation Cover?
1. Medical expenses for treatment of your work injury. This can include medications, doctor's appointments, physical therapy, surgical expenses, and
2. Travel expenses incurred while treating your work injury, including mileage or other transportation costs,
3. Future Treatment as prescribed by treating doctors, including surgery, physical therapy, injections, or medications.
4. Benefits for missing work or working with restrictions (See below).
5. Vocational rehabilitation services such as job placement and training. Injured employees can pursue these services if they are unable to perform suitable work for which they have previous training or experience due to a work injury.
What Benefits Can I Receive Through Workers’ Compensation in Nebraska?
In Nebraska, the following benefits are something you may be able to claim under Workers’ Compensation, depending on your injury and circumstances:
1. Temporary Total Disability Benefits (“TTD”)
2. Temporary Partial Disability Benefits (“TPD”)
3. Permanent Partial Disability Benefits (“PPD”)
4. Permanent Total Disability Benefits (“PTD”)
5. Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits
Each of these benefits requires a particular set of circumstances as described in the table below. Calculating each of these benefits depends on the injured employee’s average weekly wage (“AWW”). The average weekly wage is determined by averaging the weekly wage of the 26 weeks leading up to the date of injury. Weeks where the employee’s wage is abnormally low are excluded from the averaging calculation. Temporary Partial and Temporary Total Disability benefits end once the injured worker has reached Maximum Medical Improvement (“MMI”) as determined by a doctor.
If you think you are not receiving the benefits you are entitled to from workers’ compensation after a work injury, contact a lawyer right away.