It can be very stressful to be injured and unable to work and earn your normal wages. The state of New York recognizes this hardship and provides workers’ compensation benefits to qualifying individuals.
Degrees of disability
When it comes to workers’ comp benefits, the rate at which they are paid is based on the “degree” of disability. The degree of disability can be total at 100%, marked at 75%, moderate at 50% or mild at 25%.
Your degree of disability can be found in your medical report. The opinion about the degree of injury may come from your doctor or an independent medical examiner. If there is a disagreement, you have the option to compromise with the insurer or to have a hearing held to determine the degree of disability.
Disability classifications
Disability classifications can also play a role in how much you will receive in workers’ comp benefits. Generally, these classifications involve partial disabilities and total disabilities.
A person has a temporary partial disability if they temporarily cannot perform some aspect of their job earn their full wages. A person has a permanent partial disability if their ability to perform some aspect of their job is permanently lost.
A person has a temporary total disability if they temporarily cannot perform any of their job functions and earn wages. A person has a permanent total disability if their ability to perform any aspect of their job is permanently and totally lost.
Do not be afraid to seek benefits
Calculating disability benefits seems complicated. However, this should not stop you from pursuing the benefits you are entitled to. Workers’ compensation benefits are meant to help injured workers make ends meet financially while they are unable to work.