Common Pitfalls Of Filing Claims Simultaneously
Some long term disability policies will exclude work-related injuries from coverage completely. In other words, if you get hurt at work, the long term disability company may take the position that you should be covered by workers compensation, not long term disability.
If your workers compensation benefits are denied, and long term disability pays benefits while you are waiting for the decision on your workers compensation claim, the long term disability company might look to either you or the workers compensation insurer to pay back some of the money they paid to you if you are eventually awarded wage loss benefits under the workers compensation system.
If you are receiving wage loss benefits from the workers compensation insurer and you get approved for long term disability benefits, the long term disability carrier may offset, or reduce, your long term disability benefits by the amount you are receiving in workers compensation benefits.
Again, the coordination of these benefits can be very tricky. You should talk to a Workers Compensation lawyer about when, if at all, you should apply for long term disability benefits at the same time as applying for or receiving workers compensation benefits.
Common Questions About Workers Compensation Vs Short
- What is the difference?
- Which one should I apply for?
- Why is my employer telling me to file for short-term disability if I got hurt at work?
- I have been denied for workers compensation benefits, now can I get short term disability?
- Does it affect my workers compensation case if I get on short-term disability?
The above are the most common questions I hear when injured workers are caught between short-term disability benefits and workers compensation benefits. Read on for some clarity on the two different types of insurance and how they affect one another.
Disability Benefits For Veterans
You may be eligible for disability benefits if you’re on disability from your service in the Canadian Armed Forces or Merchant Navy.
You may get social assistance payments from:
- your province or territory
- your First Nation
These payments will depend on your household income, savings and investments.
You may also be eligible for health-related benefits from your province or territory. These benefits may include benefits that help cover the cost of:
- medications
- medical aids or devices
Don’t Miss: Degenerative Disc Disease Disability Rating
Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefits
The Canada Pension Plan provides monthly payments to people who contribute to the plan during their working years.
You may be eligible for CPP disability benefits if:
- you contributed to the CPP for a certain number of years
- you’re under 65 years old
- you have a severe and prolonged mental or physical disability
- your disability prevents you from working on a regular basis
The benefits include payments to children of a person with a disability.
Apply as early as possible if you think you’re eligible for CPP disability benefits. Quebec residents may be eligible for a similar program called the Quebec Pension Plan . It may take several months to process your application.
If you applied for CPP or QPP disability benefits and were told that you’re not eligible, you can ask to have your application reviewed or considered again.
Once you reach age 65, your CPP disability benefit will automatically change to regular CPP payments. Your regular CPP payments may be less than the CPP disability payments you got before.
If so, consider:
What Is Workers Compensation
Workersâ compensation is a type of insurance that is offered through your employer. If you are injured or get sick at work, workersâ compensation will:
- Cover your medical expenses related to the illness or injury.
- Replace a portion of the wages you miss as a result of the incident.
Workersâ comp may also cover retraining costs , compensation for permanent injuries and payment to beneficiaries of workers who are killed on the job.
Workersâ compensation only covers work-related injuries or illnesses. Injuries or illness that occur outside of working hours, or when you are on personal time, are not covered.
RELATED CONTENT: What Is Disability Insurance? Our disability insurance guide can help you learn more about disability insurance and how it can benefit your financial plan.
If you are ever offered a workersâ compensation benefit, it may be a good idea to speak with an attorney before you accept it.
Recommended Reading: Sdi Benefit Amount
How Can I Tell If I Have Short
Most Georgia employers are required to carry workers compensation coverage if they have 3 or more employees however, Georgia law does not require employers to buy short-term disability plans to cover their employees. You may be able to opt-in to a short-term disability plan through your workplace, but youll need to talk to your employer to find out if such a benefit is available.
Its not uncommon for an employer to provide short-term disability benefits on their own, without an insurance company. If you want short-term disability coverage but your employer doesnt offer it, you can purchase an individual short-term disability insurance policy on your own initiative and dime.
The easiest way to determine if you have short-term disability coverage through work is by inquiring with someone at your employers human resources department, or by looking closely at your paycheck stub to see if there is a deduction each pay period for short-term disability insurance. Even if its not listed on your paystub, you may still have access to this benefit through your workplace. It doesnt hurt to ask.
What If I Dont Agree With The Permanent Disability Rating
While ratings are based on a standard set of criteria, they are somewhat negotiable. If you do not agree with your rating, you have the right to dispute it.
If you do not have an attorney:
- 1. Contact the claims administrator and discuss your concerns.
- 2. If the claims administrator does not agree with you, you can request a workers compensation judge to determine your rating.
- 3. You may also request a State Disability Rater to rate your disability and use this rating in negotiation. .
- 4. If you disagree with the state Disability Rater, you can request reconsideration of your rating by the Workers Compensation Appeals Board. An Information and Assistance Officer can help you find a workers compensation judge or request reconsideration.
If you do have an attorney:
Talk to your attorney about your concerns. She can explain the rating to you and present your concerns to a workers compensation judge.
You May Like: How Is Disability Calculated In California
Know The Difference Between Four Types Of Disability Insurance Benefits
It can be difficult to keep all the different types of disability insurance straight. Whats the difference between short- and long-term disability insurance? What about employer-paid or supplemental disability insurance vs. Social Security disability benefits vs. workers compensation?
Its important for benefits administrators to know the ins and outs of disability insuranceboth as youre selecting benefit plans for your workforce, and for the time when an employee needs to file a claim. Use this cheat sheet to get up to speed.
Short-term disability insurance
Short-term disability insurance typically covers employees experiencing a temporary covered illness or injury that keeps them out of work for a period of around three to six months, though the length depends on the specific policy. A short-term disability policy typically pays employees a greater portion of their income than a long-term disability policy will. Also, the elimination periodthe amount of time that employees must wait to begin collecting benefitsfor short-term disability insurance is usually only around two weeks or less. However, short-term disability policies only allow employees to collect benefits for a span of months, rather than years. Common triggers for short-term disability claims include accidental injuries, cancer and pregnancy, which is technically considered a disability for purposes of leave and other employee benefits in some states.
Long-term disability insurance
If You Run Out Of Paid Leave
Depending on your circumstances, you may request that sick leave credits be advanced to you to cover the period of your absence. This type of leave request is covered to the limit prescribed in your collective agreement or terms and conditions of employment.
You may also request leave without pay for illness or injury. Refer to Appendix B of the Directive on Leave and Special Working Arrangements for additional information.
You May Like: What Does 100 Disabled Mean
Be Aware Of This Short Term Disability Workers Comp Trap
When youre hurt at work and dont know where your next pay check will come from, it can be tempting to say that your injury did not happen at work so that you can receive STD benefits right away. This may ease the pain in the short term but will help you in the long run.
As we explained above workers compensation provides better benefits than short term disability. By stating that your injury is not work-related solely for the purpose of obtaining STD benefits right away you may cost yourself tens of thousands of dollars in medical and wage loss benefits in the future. Any statement to a doctor or your employer that you were not hurt at work will hurt your work comp case. The insurance company will use it against you at hearing and in settlement negotiations.
Michigan Lawyer Explains The Difference Between Workers Comp Vs Long Term Disability And Explains How You Can Get Both At The Same Time
We frequently get telephone calls and emails from people hurt on-the-job who are forced to make a claim for long term disability insurance instead of workers compensation. It usually happens when there is some controversy about how the accident occurred or what the medical shows. It is an easy decision to accept LTD insurance when faced with the prospect of not having any income. But this is not always the best course of action for people hurt at work.
Employers want people on LTD insurance because it costs them less money. Here is some information about workers comp vs long term disability that every disabled employee should know.
Recommended Reading: Mo Social Security Disability
Does The Employer Get To Reduce My Workers Comp Payments If I Receive Long Term Disability
Virginia Code Section 65.2-520 states:
Any payments made by the employer to the injured employee during the period of his disability, or to his dependents, which by the terms of this title were not due and payable when made, may, subject to the approval of the Commission, be deducted from the amount to be paid as compensation, provided that, in the case of disability, such deductions shall be made by reducing the amount of the weekly payment in an amount not to exceed one-fourth of the amount of the weekly payment for as long as is necessary for the employer to recover his voluntary payment. However, any payments made to an injured employee under the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act of 1927, as amended, 33 U.S.C. § 901 et seq., may be deducted in full from the amount to be paid as compensation for the same injury under this title.
But your employer and its insurance carrier are entitled to a credit for payments made under a long term disability plan only if the plan was entirely paid by the employer and contains an exclusion for disability compensable under workers compensation. Otherwise they are not entitled to a credit against your workers comp wage loss benefits for long term disability benefits you receive even if the employer paid 90% of the premiums.
Understanding The Difference Between Wsib Insurance And Disability Insurance
Were you injured at work, or are you suffering an injury preventing you from working?
There are options for you.
Dont worry, sometimes the hardest part is knowing where to look for options on how to seek financial assistance for your losses.
Also, its important to remember that in this process, you are not alone. Its easy to get discouraged and lost within the vast amount of information being given to you.
We want to simplify this process for you, and get you on the right track to recovery. Your efforts and energy should be spent on getting yourself better, let us do the hard work for you.
Weve put together a guide to help you understand the difference between WSIB Insurance and Disability Insurance, to assist you in this process.
Don’t Miss: How Much Money Can I Make If I Am On Social Security
Overview Of Workers Compensation Long
Minnesotas workers compensation system is designed to provide financial support to qualifying employees who are injured in on-the-job accidents or suffer an ailment related to workplace conditions.
Instead of seeking compensation through a personal injury case, a worker can file a workers compensation claim to receive monetary benefits.
You dont have to prove that your employer was at fault since the law requires companies to carry workers compensation insurance to pay valid claims.
There are two special considerations to note with respect to the states workers compensation system.
What’s The Difference Between Workers’ Compensation And Disability
A job-related injury or illness that renders a person unable to work can leave an employee in a financial scramble. Medical expenses are mounting, and there are other bills to pay.
At Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers, our compassionate, legal team works to examine every possible avenue of benefits and recovery.
One question we are often asked: Whats the difference between workers compensation and disability?
The short answer is A lot.
But first, a few similarities:
- Both workers compensation and disability provide monetary payments and support to workers who suffered from injuries or illness.
- Benefits of both types vary depending on ones occupation and state. Usually, in both cases, benefits cover a portion of ones wages until the worker can go back to work.
Now, to highlight some key differences:
This is not to say workers compensation benefits are necessarily always better for an injured worker, but there are a number of advantages to it over other disability insurance programs.
Can an Injured Employee Collect Both?
Technically speaking, injured workers may be entitled to workers compensation and private disability and SSDI.
But recognize there may be consequences to doing so.
For example, disability payments from private sources, such as pensions or insurance benefits, wont affect SSDI benefits. However, workers compensation and other public disability benefits will reduce your SSDI benefits or vice versa.
Taunton Office
Don’t Miss: Is Disability Insurance Deductible
Why Is My Employer Telling Me To File For Short
The answer may be one of two things: 1) Your employer may not be aware of the difference between the two types of benefits OR 2) Your employer could be trying to pull the wool over your eyes by having you make a claim under your personal STD policy , instead of filing a claim for workers compensation benefits against the companys insurance policy it saves the company money .
Long Term Disability Benefit Offsets
Keep in mind that other disability benefits, such as Short Term Disability, social security disability or no-fault benefits, retirement benefits, or income from a part-time job could also offset long term disability benefits. In order to maximize the benefits that you are entitled to, its important to understand how each of these benefits interrelate.
An attorney who understands both workers compensation and disability benefits can help you to understand the coordination of the benefits. The attorneys at Fields Law Firm have successfully handled Workers Compensation and Disability cases, and we understand how to maximize the benefits for you. Call us today for free advice on your specific situation.
You May Like: Disability Eligibility Texas
Eligibility Rules And Benefits
Minnesota law requires all employers to carry workers compensation insurance, even those with just one full- or part-time employee.
Therefore, its likely that you qualify if youre a true employee, instead of an independent contractor.
Another eligibility rule is that you must have been hurt in an on-the-job accident or suffer from an illness that was caused or exacerbated by conditions in the workplace.
If you qualify and meet the requirements for notification, you can recover such benefits as:
- Medical expenses
- Death benefits, if a loved one died because of a work-related medical condition and,
- Lost wages, once you miss three days of work.
Problems That May Arise When Applying For Benefits
In some cases, the insurance company initially approves long-term disability payments but then discontinues or reduces them after 18 to 24 months. If this happens to you, contact an attorney right away. We can fight the decision, but there are timelines we must meet.
Other problems people have when applying for benefits include:
- Being disabled from working in their occupation, but potentially able to work on a different job
- Having residual effects from another illness or injury
- Concerns about their prior work history
Don’t Miss: Exercise Induced Asthma Va Disability Rating
South Dakota Workers Compensation
Program administrator: South Dakota Department of Labor and RegulationEmployers required to provide coverage: NoneMedical benefits: Employers must cover all medical bills related to the workplace injury. You can choose your doctor, but the employer and insurer are entitled to request a second opinion for which they must cover the cost.Temporary total disability benefits: Equal to two-thirds of your average weekly wage, subject to a weekly $805 maximum and a seven-day waiting period. Benefits are paid until you return to work or reach maximum medical improvement. Temporary partial disability benefits: Equal to two-thirds of your average weekly wage, minus your pre-injury wage. Permanent partial disability benefits: Varies by disability, with payments made weekly or bi-weekly until a lump sum is approved. Permanent total disability benefits: Equal to two-thirds of your average weekly wage, subject to the weekly maximum and payable for life. Other notable coverage: Varies, depending on your relationship to the deceased. Surviving spouses are eligible for death benefits up to two-thirds of the deceasedâs average weekly wage, subject to the state maximum, plus $50 per month per dependent child They can also receive up to $10,000 in burial expenses.
Dont Miss: How Is Military Disability Retirement Pay Calculated