When Ohio residents are injured at the workplace, they may face not only physical pain but financial challenges as well. A serious injury can result in lost wages, with medical bills piling up at the same time. Fortunately, there are benefits available to help victims during this difficult time. The two main benefits are workers' compensation and SSDI benefits. However, it can be hard to determine which one is applicable to a person's situation.
Most injured employees receive workers' compensation benefits when they suffer a workplace injury. These benefits are reserved for temporary injuries that are expected to get better and allow the person to return to work after a short period of time.
SSDI benefits, on the other hand, are for injuries that lead to a long-term or permanent disability. SSDI benefits are not limited to those who are injured at work. They can be given to those who suffer serious injuries outside of the workplace, but there are certain requirements that must be met. For example, the injury must last longer than one year and the victim must have paid into the Social Security program through payroll deductions. If the accident happens at work, it is possible to receive both SSDI and workers' compensation benefits.
In many cases, state disability payments are higher than workers' compensation payments and therefore injured employees may choose the state program instead. However, unemployment benefits are often out of the question because, in order to qualify, a person must be physically able to work.
The process of receiving benefits after an injury can be tricky to navigate. Each program has its own requirements, all which must be followed very closely down to every last details. It is common to be denied benefits the first time around, so it might be wise to seek professional help.
Source: FindLaw, "The Difference Between Workers' Comp and Disability," accessed July 26, 2014
No Comments