Workers in Minnesota can get hurt on the job in any industry. When they do, they can turn to workers’ compensation insurance to minimize the financial impact of their injuries.
Many workers who need benefits will only need medical coverage. Some workers will need temporary disability benefits if they require a leave of absence to recover from their injuries. Only a small number of workers will require permanent disability benefits after they get hurt on the job.
How can you determine if you potentially qualify for permanent disability benefits through workers’ compensation?
A doctor has to affirm the lasting impact of your injury
The doctor overseeing your treatment during a workers’ compensation claim can recommend certain care and might influence whether you go back to work or not in the early stages of your recovery. Their assessment of your condition will also determine when your benefits will likely stop or change.
At some point, an individual will fully recover or reach a point where additional care will not make much of an impact on their condition. Those who no longer have symptoms limiting their job functions will see their benefits end unless their symptoms flare up again later. Those who still have quantifiable functional limitations because of their injury may qualify for permanent workers’ compensation benefits.
Those who have to change jobs and make lower pay at their new position can receive permanent partial disability benefits, while those who cannot work anymore can receive permanent total disability benefits. The nature of your injury and your age will play a role in whether you qualify for total disability benefits. Older workers may actually qualify for total disability benefits with a lower impairment rating.
Maximizing benefits is key for those with long-term medical consequences
If your work injury or job-acquired medical condition will permanently affect what you earn, then permanent disability benefits may be the only thing helping you cover your cost of living expenses. Accepting a low settlement or not questioning a disability rating that you believe misrepresents your condition will leave you struggling financially for years.
Knowing your rights and having professional help as you assert them during the claim or appeals process will help you maximize what you get from workers’ compensation. Connecting with permanent disability benefits is crucial for those adjusting to life with a disabling medical condition related to their employment.
