What benefits can injured workers receive?

If you sustain an injury in a workplace accident, you may become responsible for large medical bills and lose wages while you recover. Workers’ compensation benefits can provide some financial relief as you recover from your injury.

According to the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, you must notify your employer as soon as possible about the workplace accident, or you risk losing your right to workers’ compensation benefits. Once your claim gets approved, you then become eligible to receive rehabilitation, wage loss and medical benefits.

Rehabilitation benefits

If you need assistance returning to your job after a workplace accident, you could receive vocational rehabilitation through the workers’ compensation system. You could also become eligible for retraining to help you get back to working in a similar position.

Wage loss benefits

If you miss work because of a workplace injury, you could receive wage loss benefits to make up for some of the income you lose. Some of the available wage loss benefits include temporary total disability, temporary partial disability and permanent partial disability.

Medical benefits

Through the workers’ compensation system, you can receive reasonable medical care and supplies to help you recover from your injuries. This medical treatment can include surgical, hospital, psychological, chiropractic, podiatric and other required care.

Even if you notify your employer shortly after a workplace accident occurs, your claim for benefits could still get denied. Carefully document your account of the accident and your injuries and obtain copies of all medical records of care you receive to support your claim.