Have you been injured at work and required to seek workers’ compensation benefits in Rome? Workers’ compensation is an insurance plan which provides benefits to employees who suffer injuries on the job.
The system gives compensation for lost wages in addition to medical costs, disability benefits, and death benefits. Employers and insurance companies might not always provide the benefits that an injured worker needs.
This is why you should seek an experienced Rome workers compensation attorney with the Workers Compensation Lawyers Coalition Rome to assist you in completing your benefits claim.
Our legal team has years of experience in handling cases for workers’ compensation in Rome, Georgia. We have secured millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. We can manage all your legal obligations.
Georgia’s worker’s compensation typically is at least two-thirds of the weekly average, but this varies depending on the salary of the worker and the date of an accident.
However, there are higher limits for worker’s compensation payments. For instance, $675 is the maximum weekly payment in the case of the temporary total disability.
A maximum of $675 will be offered to injured workers whose weekly earnings exceed $675. The benefits aren’t tax-deductible.
What Are The Different Types Of Workers’ Compensation Benefits In Rome?
There are four types of disability benefits that can be paid in Georgia under the worker’s compensation system. When it comes to the kind of benefit awarded, it depends on the extent of disability as well as the amount of time it is anticipated to endure.
Temporary Total Disability Benefits Tor Georgia Workers’ Compensation
According to GA Code 34-9-261, an injured employee can be eligible to receive temporary total disability benefits when a doctor decides that the worker is not able to work, or they place the employee on light duty work and no light duty work is available.
There’s a waiting time of seven days before benefits begin. The employee who is injured can legally be granted temporary total disability if they are out of work for seven days. If an employee is out of work for 21 days, they are also qualified to receive a salary during the waiting time.
The benefits are calculated on the basis of the average weekly wage. The benefits are determined as two-thirds of the average weekly wage. Any worker injured after the 1st of July 2019 is required to pay $675.
Workers’ benefits for compensation in Rome can continue to be paid for a maximum of 400 weeks from the date of injury. If a doctor who is authorized to do so issues a work release of light duty to an injured worker the benefits may be limited to 52 weeks consecutively.
Temporary Partial Disability Benefits For Georgia Workers’ Compensation
These benefits can be found in GA Code 34-9-262. These benefits apply in cases where the worker injured isn’t totally disabled. They’re granted partial disability status in these instances and are able to work on a light-duty basis.
In other words, you’ll be able to get back to work, however, you’re making less money as compared to the money you made prior to your accident. The benefits are designed to help cover a portion of the difference in wages due to injuries that occur when working.
These benefits are calculated as two-thirds of your average weekly salary. There is an upper limit of $450 per week, and you will be eligible for these benefits for not more than 350 weeks after the date of your accident.
The benefits usually are provided until your doctor has determined that you are able to resume your regular activities.
Here’s an example to aid you in understanding. Let’s say you were making $500 per week prior to the injury, and now, following your accident, you’re making $300 per week.
The difference between these 2 numbers is $200, and two-thirds of that amount is $133.33. This is the maximum amount you can get through temporary partial disability benefits.
Workers’ Compensation In Georgia: Permanent Partial Disability Benefits
The benefits are determined by GA Code 34-9-263. An employee who is injured in an accident is eligible for PPD benefits when their physician declares that they have attained maximum medical improvement (or MMI) and has concluded that they qualify.
Maximum medical improvement is when your injury or medical condition will not improve any further.
When an injured person receives PPD benefits, they’re not qualified to receive TPD or TTD benefits. The calculation is based on two-thirds of the average weekly salary. The maximum weekly amount an employee can earn is $675.
This is the most popular form of workers’ compensation claim. These benefits can also be paid as a lump sum, rather than weekly.
As far as the calculation is concerned, it is determined on the basis of an impairment rating given by an authorized doctor which is then multiplied by the number of weeks that are allowed for the affected body part. For instance, 60 weeks is the length of time allowed to receive PPD benefits for the thumb. A thumb can be granted PPD benefits for 225 weeks.
Permanent Total Disability Benefits For Georgian Workers’ Compensation
Georgia does not have a similar classification. However, Georgian workers are able to receive workers’ compensation benefits in Rome for total disability that lasts for a long time for a qualifying catastrophic injury.
A worker who loses one or more of their hands, feet, or legs could be qualified for benefits of total disability.
Legally, you may also qualify for this type of compensation if you have permanently impaired in either or both eyes.
For the calculations are concerned, it will be similar to the calculation done for temporary total disability but the only difference will be that the benefits will be paid over a lifetime and won’t expire after 400 weeks.
What Is The Method Used To Calculate Workers’ Compensation Benefits In Rome?
There are three methods to determine the average weekly salary in Georgia:
1. Actual Earnings for 13 weeks. The best way to calculate the weekly average wage of an injured worker is to use the average salary for the previous 13 weeks.
If, for instance, an injured worker made $26,000 in the 13-week period before his accident, their weekly income would be $1000.
2. Similar Employee’s Earnings: In case the employee hasn’t been working in a substantial way for the 13 weeks preceding the accident, the wages of another employee engaged in the same job could be used in calculating the weekly average wage.
3. The Contracted Rate of Hiring: If the two methods mentioned above are not able to be utilized to determine the weekly average wage for an injured worker, this method can be used to determine the amount.
In this method, the hourly contracted wage fire of the employee is calculated and multiplied by the number of hours that they are contracted to work.
For example, if the injured worker used to make $25 per hour and they were contracted to work 40 hours a week, their weekly earnings would be $1000.
It is vital to calculate the average weekly wage since this is the basis for workers’ benefits calculations.
Are The Workers’ Compensation Benefits In Rome Tax-deductible?
Worker’s Compensation benefits are not considered to be income under Georgia law and IRS codes. However, the settlement amount could be required to be reported in certain situations.
Call Our Lawyers Today For Help In Obtaining Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Rome.
The laws governing worker’s compensation are complex and this is why you should have an experienced attorney from Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition Rome, by your side to defend your rights and help you obtain the benefits that you deserve.
We have years of experience helping injured workers recover the maximum benefits from workers’ compensation in Rome for their injuries.
Give us a call at 470-518-5026 to set up your initial meeting with our Rome workers’ compensation lawyers now to get assistance with your workers’ compensation claims in Rome.
