Workers' Compensation Home

WORKERS' COMPENSATION FACTS

What is workers' compensation?

If you get hurt or sick because of work, your employer is required by law to pay workers' compensation benefits. Workers' compensation provides five basic benefits: medical care, temporary disability, permanent disability, supplemental job displacement, and death benefits.

What do these benefits cover?

• Medical care: Employer paid medical treatment to help you recover from a work related injury or illness.
• Temporary Disability: Payments if you lose wages because your injury prevents you from doing your usual job while recovering.
• Permanent Disability: Payments if you don't recover completely.
• Supplemental Job Displacement: Vouchers to help pay for retraining or skill enhancement if you don't recover completely and don't return to work for your employer.
• Death Benefits: Payments to your spouse, children or other dependents if you die from a job injury or illness.

What should I do if I have a job injury?

Report the injury to your supervisor right away. Complete an injury report form as soon as possible. If your injuries result in a medical emergency, seek emergency treatment immediately. Tell the health care provider who treats you that your injury or illness is job-related. Fill out a Workers' Compensation Claim Form (DWC-1) along with a Report of Incident or Accident Form, and give to your employer. In non-emergency cases, you will be directed to go to US Healthworks for medical treatment.

Can I be treated by my Personal Physician for a Job Related Injury?

You have the right to be treated by your personal physician if the physician is designated prior to the injury or illness. The physician must meet the conditions set forth on the Employee Pre-designation of Personal Physician form. Once the pre-designation form is on file with the Workers' Compensation Manager, the designation will remain in effect until written notice is received from you.

What is the Transitional Employment Program?

The Transitional Employment Program is the process through which injured/ill employees are brought back to work as quickly as possible in temporary work assignments. These work assignments are designed to help employees remain productive and to assist in the recovery process. Transitional Employment is most effective when there is input from the injured employee, their department, their immediate supervisor, and the treating physician. The program is designed to create the best possible return-to-work opportunity for the injured/ill employee.

The Workers' Compensation Manager can provide you with a more comprehensive explanation of your rights. Contact Adell Seibles, Riverfront #214, or call 278-3979 with any questions.