After you sustain an injury on the job, you could receive workers’ compensation benefits as you recover. There are several different kinds of benefits you may receive.
The State of New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development says that workers’ compensation benefits cover several types of care. They usually pay for your medical treatment and any physical therapy that you might need. Additionally, they can help make up for the wages you lose as you recover. The severity of your injury usually determines what kind of benefits you receive.
Temporary benefits
You typically receive temporary benefits if you will be out of work for at least seven days because of your injury. Many employers provide them while you are in the process of receiving medical care. Temporary benefits generally end when your injury has healed as much as possible, a situation called maximum medical improvement. Sometimes, this may mean that you are able to return to work. However, you may not always be able to work after reaching maximum medical improvement. In this situation, there are other benefits you could receive.
Permanent benefits
You usually receive permanent benefits when an injury leaves you with a permanent disability. This may be the loss of fingers, toes, hands or legs. The loss of an ear or eye may also result in permanent benefits.
Employes may offer you either partial or total permanent benefits. Your injury may prevent you from returning to your job. However, you may be able to do other kinds of work. In this situation, you could receive permanent partial benefits. If your injury leaves you completely disabled, then you may receive permanent total benefits.
Throughout the process, you may need to provide medical records to document your injury and its progress.