If you’ve been injured on the job, one of your biggest concerns is likely, “How much does workers’ comp pay?” In Massachusetts, workers’ comp provides financial support, but it doesn’t replace your full salary.
The amount you receive depends on several factors, including the severity of your injury and how long you’re unable to work. Typically, workers’ comp covers a portion of your average weekly wage.
Understanding the exact amount and navigating the system can be complicated, which is why many turn to a Boston workers’ comp lawyer for help in recovering what they may deserve. Read on to learn more about how workers’ comp is calculated.
4 Main Types of Workers’ Comp Benefits
The first thing to understand when exploring what your workers’ comp claim might be worth is the severity of your condition. There are 4 different types of disability benefits available under workers’ comp for which you might be eligible, including:
- Permanent Total Disability: This means your injury was so severe that you won’t ever be able to work again.
- Permanent Partial Disability: Your injury was severe and permanent, but you may be able to do some level of work, even if it’s not the same job you once did.
- Temporary Total Disability: You are completely unable to work, but you expect to recover and eventually be able to return to your normal job.
- Temporary Partial Disability: You can still do some level of work, but you are limited in your ability to function. The condition, however, is expected to be temporary and you will eventually be able to work again.
Total Disability Benefits
If you are unable to work at all, your workers’ compensation benefits will likely start as temporary total disability. However, you won’t receive payments for the first 5 days unless your injury keeps you out of work for more than 21 days. You will keep receiving benefits until you either return to work, your doctor determines you’ve reached maximum medical improvement (MMI), or you have received temporary benefits for 3 years.
Your weekly payments will be 60% of your average gross weekly wages, up to a maximum limit that is reviewed and adjusted yearly. Once your medical treatment is complete, your doctor may assess whether you have a permanent disability.
If you are diagnosed with a permanent total disability, your benefits will continue at 2/3 of your average weekly wages, with the same maximum limit, for as long as the disability lasts.
Partial Disability Benefits
If you are still able to work at a reduced level, you may be entitled to 60% of the difference between your original wages and those you are now capable of earning, up to a maximum of 75% of what your total benefit level would be. You can continue receiving these benefits until you reach 5 years of payments or can return fully to work.
Other Benefits
In addition to wage replacement for temporary or permanent disabilities, Massachusetts workers’ compensation provides several additional benefits to support injured workers and their families. These include medical benefits, which cover reasonable and necessary medical care such as doctor visits, hospital treatments, and prescription medications related to the injury. Workers are also entitled to mileage reimbursement for travel to and from medical appointments.
If an injury results in permanent disfigurement or scarring, particularly on the face, neck, or hands, workers may receive a one-time payment under scarring and permanent loss of function benefits. For the families of workers who tragically died as a result of workplace injuries, survivors’ and dependents’ benefits are available, including coverage of burial costs. Lastly, injured workers may negotiate lump sum settlements as a final resolution to their claim, allowing them to receive a one-time payment rather than ongoing benefits.
How much does workers’ comp pay for these additional benefits? This will vary depending on the facts and specific circumstances of your claim, but with our legal experience, we can help you understand what your settlement is worth.
Contact a Boston Workers’ Comp Lawyer
A workers’ compensation lawyer like Jim Glaser helps ensure you receive the full range of benefits, including medical treatment, vocational rehab, and compensation for permanent injuries while preventing costly mistakes like missing deadlines or incomplete medical evidence. Without a lawyer, insurers often deny claims or offer low settlements, leaving workers with less than they deserve. An attorney helps build a solid case with the right documentation and appeals denied claims, negotiating fair settlements and making sure you’re not shortchanged by the insurance company.
Still wondering how workers’ comp is calculated for your specific situation? Jimmy Knows!® At Jim Glaser Law, we offer free initial case reviews to help you determine if we can add value to your workers’ comp injury claim, so you don’t have to pay anything upfront.
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