Types and advantages of workers' compensation benefits in Texas

March 20, 2013

Types and advantages of workers' compensation benefits in Texas

Article provided by Charles L. Scruggs, Attorney at Law
Visit us at http://www.workerscompelpaso.com/

Many workplaces are pressure cookers, with demanding productivity measures and revenue drivers. Others are inherently dangerous. Some are both stressful and dangerous. And workers in certain industries such as construction, oil and trucking are especially at risk for injuries. But no matter where you work, if you get injured on the job, you may face financial, physical and emotional stresses.

Workers' compensation benefits provide injured workers with the compensation they deserve to treat their injury or illness, bettering their chances of being able to return to work in the future.

Are you eligible for workers' compensation?

If you live in Texas, workers' compensation is not guaranteed. That's because Texas is one of the few states that does not mandate that employers provide workers' compensation coverage to employees. And even if you are eligible, there are legal limits regarding the type and amount of available coverage.

Workers' compensation entitles employees to full compensation if their injuries occur within the "course and scope" of their employment. This means participating in a business-related activity that furthers an employer's interest. Employees are also covered during business travel.

Employers are forbidden from discriminating or retaliating against employees who file workers' compensation claims. The law requires employers to treat them as they do all their other employees.

Four available types of workers' compensation benefits

There are four types of workers' compensation benefits available to injured or ill workers:
-Income
-Medical
-Burial
-Death


Income benefits are payments for any lost income experienced as a result of the work-related injury or illness. There are different types of income benefits designed for a variety of situations.

Temporary income benefits are available to employees who miss more than seven days of work because of a work-related injury or illness. The benefits may cover all or a portion of wages lost during that time.

Employees are paid supplemental income benefits on a monthly basis, depending on the nature of their injury. Impairment income benefits are designed for employees with a permanent injury not expected to improve in the future. These benefits are typically a portion of an employee's weekly wage.

Specific injuries such as permanent blindness qualify employees for lifetime income benefits. These benefits are paid for the remainder of an employee's life.

Medical benefits compensate an injured worker for the cost of any necessary medical care or treatment as a result of the injury or illness.

If an injury or illness proves fatal, death and burial benefits are available to certain family members of the deceased worker. Burial benefits cover a portion of burial expenses. They are available to the individual who covers the costs. Death benefits are also available to eligible family members. The purpose of this benefit is to replace some of the income lost after an employee's death.

In order to receive any of these available benefits, it is important for injured workers to immediately take all appropriate steps after the injury or illness occurs. A report of the injury must be made within 30 days to qualify for any available coverage.

Find an ally in the workers' compensation process

With increasing regulation and decreasing benefits, the process injured or ill workers need to navigate to get essential medical treatment gets more complicated all the time.

This is why it is equally important to immediately contact a workers' compensation attorney who has a thorough understanding of the system and can help you receive the compensation and treatment you deserve.