Workers’ compensation benefits are crucial for helping injured workers get through their period of recovery while they are out of work, covering a portion of their lost wages and any medical costs related to their injuries. However, if your benefits recently came to an end and you are unsure why, or believe you should continue to receive them, you are likely in search of answers as to why this happened. Workers’ compensation benefits will only provide this coverage as long as it is necessary. If your injury resulted in a permanent disability, you should be able to continue to receive workers’ compensation benefits.
When the Benefits Stop
You would be able to receive temporary total disability benefits if, by the seventh day of your disability, you are still unable to return to work. If you are still unable to resume your job duties after 14 days, you would also be able to receive benefits for the first seven days. Upon returning to your job, these benefits would end. However, if you return to work, but must take on a position that pays less while you continue to recover, you could possible transition to temporary disability, which would continue to pay a percentage of your lost wages and all of your injury-related medical costs. Once you are fully recovered, you would no longer receive these benefits.
Essentially, your benefits would come to an end whenever you are recovered and able to resume your previous job duties.
What if I Believe I Should Keep Receiving Benefits?
If your employer’s insurance company contests your claim or you do not believe your workers’ compensation benefits should have come to an end, you could submit evidence, including medical records, evidence of your injury, testimony, and more to a judge for review. You will be able to appeal to a three-person panel of the Workers’ Compensation Board after the judge issues a ruling you are dissatisfied with.
Workers’ Compensation Attorneys in Sacramento
If you were injured at work and your workers’ compensation benefits have prematurely come to an end, you need a workers’ compensation attorney on your side to fight on your behalf. At Smolich and Smolich in Sacramento, our team of attorneys in Sacramento is committed to fighting for the rights of injured workers and will do what is necessary to ensure you are able to receive the benefits to which you are entitled.
Start your workers’ compensation case today and call our law firm at (916) 571-0400 to request a free case evaluation with one of our knowledgeable attorneys. You will not owe us any legal fees unless we are able to win your case!