How Long Can You Stay on Workers’ Comp in MN?
Workers’ compensation benefits provide a lifeline to injured workers and their families. Workers’ comp not only covers medical bills to treat a workers’ injuries, but can also provide wage loss benefits when the worker cannot return to his or her old job.
One question we receive is “How long can you receive workers’ compensation benefits?” This is a perfectly valid question, especially if you have been so injured that you are not earning as much as you did before. Many workers are rightfully afraid that their benefits will run out.
Wage Loss Benefits
Minnesota’s workers’ compensation system provides for four types of wage loss benefits that can replace some or all of the income you have lost because of an injury.
- Temporary total disability: the worker cannot return to work temporarily because of an injury.
- Temporary partial disability: the worker has temporary physical restrictions due to the injury that keeps him or her from making the same amount as before the accident.
- Permanent partial disability: the worker has lost the use of a body part, such as a hand or foot.
- Permanent total disability: the worker cannot return to work at all because of a disability.
Remember that wage loss benefits only replace a portion of your lost wages, so even under the best circumstances, injured workers lose money.
Duration of Temporary Disability Benefits
Temporary wage loss benefits don’t last forever. Instead, the following limits apply:
- Temporary total disability: maximum of 130 weeks
- Temporary partial disability: maximum of 225 weeks
Workers should talk with their doctor about their expected recovery time and what they need to do to reach maximum medical improvement. If you have a partial disability, you can hopefully pick up new skills so that you can transition to a new job.
Duration of Permanent Total Disability
Workers with the most severe injuries will be out of the workplace possibly forever and can draw permanent total disability benefits until retirement. (If you have a permanent partial disability, you might receive payment in a lump sum.)
Under the law, the age of retirement is presumed to be age 67. Of course, a worker can try to rebut this presumption by proving to a judge that he or she would have continued working past age 67. In reality, though, this is very hard to do, and most people who are totally disabled see their benefits end at age 67.
Get all the Benefits You Are Entitled To
It should come as no surprise that many employers and insurers try to force injured workers back into work, or they try to cut off benefits early. You might need an attorney to help you get the compensation you deserve.
At Arechigo & Stokka, we have helped countless injured workers maximize the amount of compensation they can receive. Doing so affords them peace of mind, as they know their expenses and their loved ones will be taken care of.
Contact us today. We offer a free, no-risk compensation where we can learn more about your accident and injuries.
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