The workers compensation insurance system is incredibly useful and ensures that there is sanity in every workplace. The system ensures that injured workers get the best medical attention as well as wage replacement benefits. It also ensures that employers do not get crippled by costly injury lawsuits by injured workers. It also helps to boost workplace safety as employers are required to put in place measures to help boost safety of their workers. Every state has a workers’ compensation act that governs how the system will be administered in the state.
How much Does Workmans Comp Pay in Texas?
Workmans comp pays a number of benefits to injured workers at different rates. The following is a list of benefits that injured workers are entitled to in the state of Texas:
1. Medical Benefits
In the state of Texas, Workers’ comp pays for all essential medical treatment related to a work injury. Any other medical issue is not covered, even if it is discovered during treatment. For instance, If you have a head injury, workers’ comp will pay for all surgical operations and other procedures that are aimed at treating the injuries, but will not pay for removal of a tumor that may be discovered during treatment. With workers’ compensation insurance, workers and their families do not need to worry about paying hospital bills when there is a work-related injury.
2. Temporary Income Benefits
After getting injured, workers need time to recuperate from those injuries. This means that they will have to be out of work for weeks or months. As a result, they will not be able to work and earn an income. Fortunately, workers’ comp pays temporary income benefits at the rate of 70% of average weekly income. For instance, if you used to earn $600 weekly, you will be entitled to get $420 weekly as you recover from your injuries. It is important to note, however, that the temporary income benefits are only paid if the injured worker stays out of work for over a week. Please note that temporary income benefits are usually paid out for 104 weeks. This means that after the 104 weeks, these benefits will not be paid out.
3. Lifetime Disability Benefits
If you are permanently disabled by a work injury, you will be entitled to get lifetime disability benefits, which are paid out at the rate of 75% of your previous weekly benefits. It is important to note that lifetime benefits are usually increased annually at the rate of 3%, and there is no maximum.
4. Supplemental Income Benefits
If you are permanently impaired in one way or another, your doctor will calculate your impairment as a percentage. For instance, if it is found that you are 30% impaired, and you are able to work, but you can only earn $200 from the previous weekly wage of $600, you will get supplemental income benefits of $280. This is because Texas workers’ compensation pays the difference between current income and 80% of previous income.
