All About Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Workers’ compensation benefits, also referred to as workman’s comp, provides temporary and permanent disability benefits, missed wage replacement, and death benefits to employees that are due to work-related illness or injury.
- Workers’ compensation can lower your company’s risk of liability for work-related illnesses and injuries.
- Most states require companies with employees to carry workers’ compensation insurance.
- In the State of Florida, companies are required to provide workers’ comp insurance to their employees.
- Workers’ compensation is only required to pay a portion of the employee’s lost wages.
Keep in mind that each state has its own rules about workman’s compensation requirements. In Florida, coverage requirements depend on the type of industry, the number of employees, and other factors. Let’s take a closer look into workers’ compensations benefits in Florida.
Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits in the State of Florida
Temporary Total Disability Benefits (TTD)
Under Florida workers’ comp, employees are eligible for temporary total disability benefits if they take time off from work to recover from work-related injury or illness. Employees can only receive benefits for the first 7 days of their work-related injury or illness if it prevents them from working longer than 21 days.
An employee is eligible for temporary disability benefits until:
- A doctor gives them medical clearance and says that they can go back to work.
- A doctor says that their condition will not improve.
- The employee has reached the maximum amount of time for temporary disability benefits.
Temporary Partial Disability Benefits (TP):
When a doctor releases an employee back to work with restrictions, they may receive Temporary Partial Disability Benefits. This only applies if the employee cannot earn at least 80% of the wages that they were making at the time of their illness or injury.
Impairment Income Benefits (IIB)
When a doctor determines that the employee is at the Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) and their condition is not expected to improve, the doctor will evaluate the employee for permanent work restrictions.
Permanent Total Disability Benefits (PTD)
After an employee’s medical treatment is complete, the doctor will evaluate them to determine whether or not they have a lasting medical condition or if they have lost functions (an “impairment”) due to their injury or illness.
Suppose the doctor finds the employee to have a permanent disability that keeps them from doing any type of work even a sedentary job. In that case, they will be eligible to receive permanent total disability benefits until the age of 75 or for the rest of their life if they don’t qualify for Social Security benefits. Amputations of an arm or leg or severe brain injury are automatically classified as a permanent total disability.
Additional Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Florida’s Include:
Medical Benefits
Workers’ compensation can pay for medical care to treat a work-related injury or illness.
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
If an employee cannot return to their regular job, they may be eligible to receive vocational counseling, training, or other services to help them gain new employment.
Death Benefits for Surviving Family
When an employee dies from a work-related injury or illness, their loved ones may be entitled to death benefits. The amount varies depending on the number of dependents the employee has.
The Duration of Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Florida
The amount of time that an employee can collect workers’ compensation depends on the kind of injury or illness that they suffered and how it impacts their ability to work. Additionally, the time limits for each type of workers’ compensation benefit vary. Check out the maximum benefits amount by visiting Florida’s Division of Workers Compensation.
As a business owner, you must understand the requirements regarding workers’ compensation and how it impacts your company. At Vision HR, we’re here to help you understand the small details regarding workers’ compensation to help protect you and your employees. Contact us today to see how we can help your Port Orange business.
