Were you injured on the job? Make sense of the benefits you are owed from workers’ compensation.
On-the-job injuries are a common risk across all industries. According to a recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report, there were over 77,000 non-fatal work-related injuries in Georgia in 2018. The state also reported over 200 fatal work-related fatalities.
Suppose you suffered an illness or injury because of a workplace accident; in that case, you are eligible for certain benefits under Georgia Workers Compensation Act.
These benefits help pay for the injured workers’ medical costs and supplement their income if they are unable to return to work. Financial entitlements can go a long way in alleviating some of the stress surrounding your illness or injury.
It’s natural for injured employees to worry about the future, how they will recover, how the bills will be paid, and whether the recoverable benefits will be sufficient.
A skilled Mableton workers’ compensation lawyer at The Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition is ready to assist you in understanding the benefits available and help you plan for your future. Call us at 470-518-5026 for a free initial consultation.
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Types of Mableton Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Georgia Workers Compensation Act provides different types of benefits to injured workers depending on the severity of the disability and type of injury. The benefits available to an injured employee in Mableton, GA, include:
1. Medical Benefits
In Georgia, all the necessary and reasonable medical care and treatment costs that arise from an injured employee’s injury or illness should be covered by workers’ compensation. This includes payment of:
- Surgery
- Medicine
- Hospital stays
- Ambulance fees
- In-home nursing and rehabilitation services
- Physical therapy
- Mileage: Injured workers can receive benefits for all costs incurred to travel to and from appointments with an appointed medical provider.
- All other medical expenses that are the consequence of your workplace injury or disease
However, your employer gets to pick the medical provider if your claim is accepted. Having the best care after a workplace injury can be more important even than having a good attorney in a workers’ comp case.
To this end, under Georgia Code § 34-9-201, employers must provide the injured employee with at least six medical providers to choose from. Workers in Mableton are also allowed to seek opinions and treatment from one additional healthcare provider within the network.
2. Indemnity/Lost Wages Benefits
The state of Georgia categorizes indemnity benefits into 3 primary categories:
Temporary Total Disability Benefit in GA Workers’ Compensation (TTD)
TTD benefits are awarded to a worker who is hurt on the job and is unable to return to work as determined by the ATP, i.e., authorized treating physician. The amount of temporary total disability benefits in Mableton, Georgia, is two-thirds the workers’ weekly average wage at the time of the incident or injury.
For non-catastrophic injuries, the benefits are payable for a max of 400 weeks from the date of the injury if the employee’s illness or injury occurred after July 1, 1992. If you suffer a catastrophic injury, the amount of TTD benefits you recover may be unlimited in terms of duration.
Temporary Partial Disability Benefits in GA Workers’ Compensation (TPD)
These benefits are payable to workers when they return to work in a job that pays less cash because of a work-related accident resulting in an illness or injury. Temporary partial disability benefits in Mableton, GA, have a time limit and are payable for up to 350 weeks from the accident date. The amount payable is two-thirds of the difference between the injured worker’s average weekly wage before and after the illness or injury.
Permanent Partial Disability Benefits in GA Workers’ Compensation (PPD)
These entitlements are payable to an employee for suffering a permanent disability resulting from a work-related injury or illness. They are payable based upon the disability rating (in percentage) given by the authorized treating physician as per the current American Medical Association guidelines.
Important: Permanent partial disability benefits are not payable if you receive temporary total or temporary partial disability benefits.
3. Death Benefits
In the event that a work-related injury causes the death of an employee, the surviving family members of the employee are eligible for compensatory death benefits. The fatality may occur right away during the incident or occur later despite medical care and treatment.
Mableton, GA Workers’ Compensation Income Limits
If you got sick or hurt because of a work-related incident and whether the injury you suffered is temporary or permanent, you are entitled to certain weekly income benefits. However, Georgia law has strict instructions for calculating how much an injured worker can get paid because of a work-related illness or injury. These limits vary depending on when your injury occurred and include the following:
- Maximum payable temporary total disability weekly payment – July 1, 2019 – present $675
- Maximum payable total permanent disability weekly payment – July 1, 2019 – Present $450
- Maximum payable permanent partial disability weekly payment – July 1, 2019 – Present $675
How Are Mableton Workers’ Comp Benefits Calculated?
1. Temporary Total Disability Benefits (TTD) – Your weekly checks for TTD benefits in Mableton GA will be computed by taking 2/3 of your average weekly wage. Your average weekly wage is based on your gross wages earned over the 13 weeks before the workplace accident and injury happened.
2. Temporary Partial Disability Benefits (TPD) – Weekly checks for injured employees who receive TPD benefits will equal two-thirds of the worker’s average weekly wage.
3. Permanent Partial Disability Benefits (TPD) – The amount your receive for PPD benefits in Mableton, Georgia, will be worked put by multiplying the percentage of your impairment rating given by your authorized treating physician by the number of weeks assigned by Georgia statute for a particular body part or the whole body.
4. Death Benefits – The amount of compensation that beneficiaries or a spouse of a deceased employee can recover is calculated by taking two-thirds of the deceased employee’s average weekly wage (has a limit of up to $675 if the worker passed away on or after July 1, 2019)
Are Mableton Workers’ Compensation Benefits Taxed?
No. Workers’ compensation benefits in Mableton and throughout Georgia are not taxed.
Speak With A Compassionate and Experienced Lawyer in Mableton Today
Applying for workers’ compensation benefits in Georgia on your own isn’t always easy. It can be overwhelming, stressful, and getting a fair rating from your treating physician might be challenging.
If you got hurt because of a work-related accident, the Mableton workers’ compensation attorneys at the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition are ready to assist in applying and fighting for the benefits you deserve. Call our compassionate and skilled legal team at 470-518-5026 today for a free consultation.
