Due to the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, many employees have found themselves without employment as many employers have been forced to furlough employees or reduce work hours. If you sustained a work injury and returned to work under restrictions to accommodate your injury and are not able to perform your job as you were prior to your injury, you may be entitled to additional workers’ compensation benefits. Contact us at (757) 622-8100 if you feel you may be eligible for COVID-related workers compensation benefits. Here are three examples in which this may be applicable.
Situation #1: Temporary Total Disability Benefits
If you are working under restrictions for your employer and were laid off due to Coronavirus, you may be entitled to your full temporary total disability benefits while you wait to have your job reinstated or while your employer looks to find other employment options for you.
Situation #2: Temporary Partial Disability Benefits
If you are working under restrictions but your employer is no longer allowing you to work overtime or has reduced your hours, you may be entitled to temporary partial disability benefits. This will supplement your wages to be equivalent to the amount you were earning prior to your injury.
Situation #3: Permanent Partial Disability Benefits
Even if you are still able to continue working, if you’ve suffered a permanent injury to your eyes, ears, arms, or legs, you may be entitled to permanent partial disability benefits. These are payments that your employer is required to pay for the loss of the use of the extremity and you are paid even if you are earning your normal wages.
Many employers will claim that you cannot recover benefits for hearing loss but this is inaccurate. You can pursue benefits now for noise-induced hearing loss and if after you’ve retired, you sustain additional hearing loss, you can pursue a supplemental claim at that time.
If you would like additional information on any of the above benefits or need assistance in pursuing these benefits, contact us at (757) 622-8100.
