One of the primary objectives of working a job, other than the sense of purpose that an occupation provides, is to earn income and benefits that allow an individual to support themselves and their family. For a tiny percentage of workers, their job will result in a medical condition or accident that ends their life, which means a permanent loss of income and support.
Losing a loved one to a workplace accident or a work-acquired illness is a tragedy. The months after such a painful loss are often a difficult time for surviving family members. There are workers’ compensation benefits available for surviving dependents, commonly referred to as death or survival benefits. One of these very important benefits involves the state of Pennsylvania covering a certain amount of funeral or burial expenses.
How much will Pennsylvania pay for a worker’s funeral or burial?
It costs quite a bit to have a memorial service for your loved one and have them either cremated or entered according to your family’s faith and the preferences of your deceased loved one. In fact, the average funeral currently costs between $7,000 and $12,000.
Unfortunately, Pennsylvania workers’ compensation may not cover the full cost of funeral expenses. The maximum funeral benefit available at this time is $3,000. Families that incur more than that can receive the maximum benefit and will have to cover the remainder out of pocket.
What other benefits are available to surviving family members?
In addition to covering at least a portion of the funeral or burial expenses, Pennsylvania workers’ compensation will also cover the cost of medical care that an individual received prior to dying and provide the family members with ongoing payments comparable to what a worker would receive under long-term disability through workers’ compensation.
If you’re struggling to get a workers’ comp claim approved, find out how an experienced advocate can help.