If you’ve been seriously injured or became ill as a result of an accident or incident that happened while working in the state of Missouri, you become eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. As part of those benefits, you’re able to file for three types of disability benefits should you require an extended time away from work or can no longer work: permanent partial disability, permanent total disability, and temporary disability.
Temporary benefits are only issued on a temporary basis. When filing for or receiving temporary disability benefits, you are expected to eventually return to work and can only receive these benefits while you are undergoing medical treatment. Your benefit amount is determined by the location of your injured body part and your average weekly wage. The length of time you will be granted these benefits will depend on what type of injury you suffered, the length of your treatment, and when your doctor recommends you should not undergo any further medical treatment.
To receive disability benefits of any type, you will most likely need to see a physician that specializes in your injuries. Although a general doctor’s recommendations are helpful, they may not be enough on their own. Workers’ compensation insurance providers can be strict about who they grant benefits to and why. The process can be overly complex and may seem confusing, especially if insurance providers send you to specialists who frequently deny their patients’ claims.
If you need temporary disability benefits in the state of Missouri and have had one or more claims denied, you should know that the road doesn’t have to end there. With legal help, you can fight back against your claim denials and get the financial compensation you need to recover from your injuries while still providing for your loved ones. A Columbia temporary disability lawyer can help.
Facts You Need to Know About Temporary Disability
- In Missouri, temporary disability benefits are determined by statute. Employers are required to use the wage statements for the 13 weeks before the injury to calculate what benefits are due to the injured employee. Sometimes these rates can be miscalculated or mistaken. It is important that an experienced attorney review these calculations to make sure you are getting the amount you deserve under Missouri law.
- Temporary disability benefits are tax free.
- Temporary disability benefits can include additional calculations for overtime pay, additional employment, and whether you are a full or part time employee.
Surviving the Complications of Temporary Disability Claims
Workers’ compensation insurance providers use a complex formula when deciding how long your temporary disability benefits, if approved, should last. As part of this formula, this Missouri disability body chart is often referred to which awards numbers to each part of the body. Each number refers to an estimated period of weeks that your benefits may last. The final number must be decided upon by a physician.
Most physicians and specialists approved to look at your temporary disability claim will be those who are hired by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance provider. As such, these doctors can be extremely hesitant to award disability benefits and will try and reduce your benefit period as much as possible.
Getting Help from a Columbia Temporary Disability Lawyer
An experienced workers’ compensation attorney can help provide the best evidence which will prove the severity of your injuries as well as your need for time off. Any denied claims can be refuted legally, but without a knowledgeable legal professional on your side, fighting back can be difficult. A lawyer can also ensure your employer’s insurance provider is not cheating you out of any benefits you deserve.
You need a Columbia temporary disability lawyer with years of experience at your side. They will go up against major insurance companies and handle complicated workers’ compensation cases. We will do everything we can to get you the benefits you need to recover and provide for your family. Contact Thomas Law Offices to learn more or receive a free case evaluation.
Who We Are
Reviews
