Minnesota’s workers’ compensation system pays for wage loss, medical treatment, and vocational rehabilitation. Every case is unique, and the benefits you receive will also be particular to your situation. Some factors influence how much you receive in benefits. These factors include your medical condition and pre-injury income.
Keep reading to find out what you might receive in benefits after suffering an injury at work.
Wage-Loss Benefits
Your work-related illness or injury may keep you from working. Alternatively, it may limit how much you earn. In either case, you may receive wage-loss benefits. The amount of workers’ compensation pay in Minnesota for wage loss will depend on various factors. These include your salary and how long the injury limits your capacity to work. There are four kinds of wage loss benefits in Minnesota.
Temporary Total Disability Benefits
You may be totally unable to work for a certain period because of your work-related injury. If so, you may receive temporary total disability benefits (TTD). The compensation rate during the period of your disability is two-thirds of your gross wage at the time of the injury. The pay is subject to some statutory maximums and minimums.
Temporary Partial Disability Benefits
After suffering a work injury, you may return to work but earn less than you did pre-injury. You may also be unable to work as many hours as you did before, so you can receive temporary partial disability benefits (TPD). These benefits amount to two-thirds of the difference between what you earned at the time of the injury and what you earn currently. You only get TPD benefits if you’re employed, and the benefits are only available for a limited period.
Permanent Total Disability Benefits
As a result of your work injury, you may never be able to return to gainful employment. Thus, you may be eligible for permanent total disability benefits (PTD). The payable rate is two-thirds of your gross weekly wage at the time of your injury.
You may receive PTD benefits if your work injury or disease leads to loss of sight, limbs, or paralysis. The benefits are also payable if you suffer a mental disability, as in the case of a severe brain injury.
Permanent Partial Disability Benefits
Your work injury may cause permanent functional loss of use of the body. In such a case, you may be eligible for permanent partial disability benefits (PPD). These benefits are payable according to a disability schedule.
Medical Benefits as Part of Workers’ Compensation Pay in Minnesota
In Minnesota, workers’ compensation pays for an injured worker’s reasonable and necessary medical care. Some of the costs covered under medical benefits include:
- Mental health services
- Physical therapy and chiropractic treatment
- Surgery and hospital stays
- Doctor’s visits and medication
- Nursing services and travel costs
Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits
You may qualify for vocational rehabilitation if you can’t return to your previous job. It also applies if your employer can’t accommodate your work restrictions. For example, if you suffered a back injury, some restrictions may prevent further harm. Vocational rehabilitation services include:
- On-the-job training
- Career counseling
- Job application services
- Job search assistance
What to Do to Get Workers’ Compensation Pay in Minnesota
Take immediate action after suffering a work injury to ensure you get benefits. First, ensure you report the injury to your employer within 180 days of its occurrence. You can do so in writing or verbally.
You must seek medical care for your injuries, whether it’s a shoulder, knee injury, or minor injury. The doctor will evaluate the seriousness of your work injury and file the necessary paperwork.
Your medical records will help serve as evidence of the harm you suffered. You can find a workers’ compensation attorney in Minnesota to help with your claim.
Get Help Recovering Your Workers’ Compensation Pay in Minnesota
It can be tough to tell what benefits you’re eligible for and the amount you should receive. You don’t have to struggle with doing the math. We can shoulder that burden on your behalf. Contact Mottaz & Sisk Injury Law today to know how much workers’ compensation pay you can receive in Minnesota.
