In our last post, we began discussing workers’ compensation benefits in the form of wage-loss payments. As we mentioned, these payments are available for those who are unable to work for at least seven days due to a workplace injury. Here we want to briefly discuss when exactly wage-loss payments can be terminated.
Wage-loss payments can be terminated by an employer or insurer when the worker begins receiving an income at or above what he or she was earning prior to the injury. Before terminating wage-less payments, though, notice must be provided to the injured worker. Benefits may also be stopped during a 90-day period following an injury report. This can happen if the employee’s claim is not going to be accepted. Employees must be given proper notice in such situations, too.
There are other potential reasons to terminate wage-loss payments. These can include situations where a workers’ compensation judge terminates benefits following a hearing, when partial disability status ends, and when the injured employee signs an agreement which brings those payments to an end.
Obtaining wage-loss and other workers’ compensation benefits to which one is entitled as an injured worker is not a given. In some cases, insurance companies and/or employers may put up barriers to an employee seeking benefits or unfairly deny coverage. When an employee is unable to work out the problem with his or her employer or the insurance company, it may be time to work with an experienced attorney who understands and is able to protect the employee’s rights and advocate for his or her interests.
Source: Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, “Workers’ Compensation & the Injured Worker,” Accessed Dec. 30, 2014.