Sustaining a personal injury in California can cause temporary inability to work, leading to financial hardships during the recovery period. That’s why understanding how temporary disability benefits provided through the workers’ compensation system work is essential for injured workers. By promoting awareness about available resources while providing necessary support during the hard times of injuries one can show the commitment towards prioritizing employees’ well-being and ensuring they receive appropriate care when needed.
This blog aims to provide valuable insights into the eligibility requirements and coverage of these benefits empowering individuals with knowledge that helps them navigate the claims process effectively.
Eligibility for temporary disability benefits
According to the law of California, temporary disability benefits are made to provide support to the injured employees during financial constraints. However, to meet the eligibility criteria of temporary disability benefits you must do the following:
- Employment Relationship: the injured employee should have the employees’ workers’ compensation insurance policy. However, the contractors and the self-employed individuals do not get these benefits.
- Medical Certificate: a medical certificate from the licensed healthcare provider is required in order to prove that the injury prevents an individual from performing the job. This certificate also serves as proof of temporary disability.
- Wage loss: temporary disability benefits also cover those individuals who face wage loss during the healing period. If the injury has caused a decrease in the earning or somehow affected your income, you will be eligible for compensation.
Coverage and Duration Of Temporary Disability Benefits
Temporary disability benefits in California aim to provide financial assistance to injured workers during the period when they are unable to work due to a personal injury. Here’s what you need to know about the coverage and duration of these benefits:
- The amount provided is typically two-thirds of the employee’s pre-injury total wages, with weekly maximum and minimum limits as per the law. This helps replace some of their lost income while ensuring that essential bills are covered.
- The individual has to wait for three days before temporary disability benefits can be paid but if the worker’s disability lasts for more than 14 days, retroactive payment can include this waiting period.
- Temporary disability benefits can provide injured workers in California with financial support during their recovery period up to a maximum of 104 weeks within a five-year period from the date of injury. However, some exceptions apply for severe injuries or specific circumstances that may extend this benefit duration.
- It’s worth noting that temporary disability benefits are designed to help individuals get back on their feet and return to work. Therefore, employers may offer return-to-work programs or that help the return to the workplace easier. Participating in such programs could potentially impact the continuation and duration of temporary disability benefits highlighting the importance of communicating effectively with your employer while staying informed about available resources & options when needed.
- At the time of temporary disability coverage claims, the injured worker is also required to undergo the medical evaluation and get the relevant treatment for healing. If an employee fails to do so, the claim might get suspended.
By providing necessary support when needed, it is important to show commitment towards considering employee well-being and ensuring individuals have access to resources that help them navigate challenging times effectively.
Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm In California
Temporary disability benefits can be started as soon as an injured worker reports their injury to their employer, seeks medical attention, and starts communicating with their employer and the workers’ compensation insurance. Protecting the rights of an injured worker requires navigating the complexity of the workers’ compensation claims process, and an attorney with experience in this area can provide invaluable direction and assistance in doing so. So, if you are someone suffering from a temporary disability, get in touch with a reputable personal injury law firm in California today!
