When Will My Workers Compensation Benefits Start?

A work related injury or illness can leave a worker totally shattered especially if the injury is serious enough to require intensive treatment and affect his ability to work. 

An injured employee has to struggle with physical pain, medical expenses, wage loss, and emotional trauma. Thankfully, workers compensation is in place to take care of the interests of the injured employees.

Workers compensation provides for the medical treatment of the worker injured during the course and scope of work, and in case the employee is unable to return to work, he will be entitled to receive disability benefits under workers compensation. It is a fairly straightforward process where the injured employee notifies the employer about his injury or illness and fills out injury report. The employer or their insurance company will then take care of covering the medical treatment and benefits.

Many employees have little knowledge about the workers compensation claim process. One of the most frequently asked questions that workers compensation lawyers come across is "when will the workers compensation benefits start?" Do they start immediately after the injury is notified or is there a time gap?

Receiving Workers' Compensation Benefits

The answer is that medical benefits start immediately after the injury; however, other benefits will depend on the circumstances of the case such as the seriousness of the injuries and the employee’s ability to return to work.

All medical bills related to your workplace injury will generally be paid by the employer or his insurance company irrespective of whether or not your workers compensation claim has been allowed or accepted. Report the injury to the supervisor or employer and seek immediate medical treatment. The doctor designated by the employer will start providing treatment for the injury immediately.
When you go to the doctor for treatment, notify them that you have filed a workers compensation claim, and they will bill your employer or his insurance company directly. If somehow you receive any bills for the treatment sought for the work related injury, you should send them to the employer or insurance company for settlement.

Other workers compensation benefits such as temporary disability benefits and permanent disability benefits do not start until your workers compensation claim has been formally accepted. Before you start receiving the disability benefits under workers compensation, your employer will send a notice stating whether or not your claim has been accepted. In case your workers compensation claim is denied, you have every right to appeal the decision.

St. Louis Work Injury Lawyers

Even after your claim has been accepted, the doctor will have to verify that you are not in a condition to return to work. This will establish your eligibility for receiving workers compensation benefits. If you have been injured at your workplace, and have some questions regarding the claim process, you should consult with an experienced Missouri work injury lawyer at the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann. We can evaluate your case for free and help you get the full amount compensation you need to recover. Call us today at (314) 361-4300.


 photo credit: billjacobus1