When a workplace accident puts you out of work, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. The benefits cover, among other things, a portion of the wages you have missed out on due to your injury or illness.
The benefits due vary depending on the state you are in and your average weekly wages. Here is how much you should expect from your workers’ compensation cover in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania indemnity benefits
Under workers’ compensation insurance, you are entitled to two-thirds of your weekly wages. However, there are annual modifications on the minimum and maximum amounts you can get based on the state’s average weekly wage.
For instance, employees earning between $1,807.50 and $903.76 can claim up to 66% of their weekly wages. Those earning between $903.76 and $669.44 have a flat rate of $602.50, while workers whose wages are $669.43 or less can claim up to 90% of their weekly earnings in benefits. The maximum weekly benefits you can receive currently stands at $1,205.
How long will the benefits last?
Workers’ compensation benefits are meant to step in for you and provide relief when you cannot work. How long they will last depends on the extent of the injuries you sustained and the severity of your condition.
The benefits will cease if you fully recover and resume your usual work duties. However, you may be entitled to partial benefits if you are only medically able to work at a job where the wages are lower than what you were earning before the accident.
If you are an employee covered under the system, knowing your rights after an accident on the job and the benefits you are entitled to receive will help you look out for your interests.