Workers’ Compensation vs. Long-Term Disability
Employers are responsible for providing employees with a safe work environment. Despite the many regulations that are in place in the workforce, workplace accidents and injuries still take place at an alarming rate. When an injury occurs at work, employees should file a workers’ compensation claim.
Workers’ compensation insurance provides employees with certain benefits following a workplace injury. If injuries lead to a disability, individuals may qualify for long-term disability. Workers’ compensation lawyers at Foley Law Firm help individuals in Scranton, Stroudsburg, and Wilkes-Barre, PA, consider workers’ compensation vs. long-term disability. We can help you receive maximum benefits after being injured at work.
What Is Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation is employer-provided insurance. Workers’ compensation provides employees with benefits following a workplace injury such as coverage for medical expenses, lost wages, and vocational rehabilitation. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, which means that individuals qualify for workers’ comp benefits whether or not they played a part in causing their workplace injury.
What Is Long-Term Disability?
Long-term disability is insurance that covers a person’s wages if an illness or injury prevents them from working. Long-term disability insurance can be purchased through a group policy (meaning that payments are taken from an employee’s wages), or it can be provided through social security.
How Are Workers’ Compensation and Disability the Same?
Workers’ compensation and long-term disability are the same in a couple of key ways.
First, both types of insurance provide people with monetary benefits to cover lost wages that are a result of an illness or injury.
Second, the benefits provided by each of these types of insurance are limited, meaning that they generally only cover a portion of a worker’s wages. In addition, the benefits are usually only provided until a person is ready to resume working.
How Are Workers’ Compensation and Disability Different?
While workers’ compensation and long-term disability share some key similarities, they are also different in a lot of ways. The following are some important differences that individuals should be aware of:
- Workers’ compensation is completely paid for by an employer, whereas long-term disability is either paid for by an individual (through their health insurance) or by the government (through social security)
- Workers’ compensation provides benefits related to a workplace illness or injury, while long-term disability provides benefits for any type of illness or injury that keeps a person out of work (whether or not it is work-related)
- Workers’ compensation benefits are tax free, whereas long-term disability benefits are subject to income tax
- Workers’ compensation will cover all necessary and reasonable health expenses related to a workplace illness or injury, whereas long-term disability benefits may be dictated by group or private health plans
- Workers’ compensation benefits are determined by the law, whereas long-term disability benefits are dependent on the type of policy a person has
Contact Our Law Firm
If you have suffered a workplace injury, the workers’ compensation lawyers at Foley Law Firm can help you consider your rights regarding workers’ compensation and long-term disability. Get the maximum benefits you are due for your losses. To discuss the details of your situation with our legal team, send us a message online or call (570) 342-8194 at your earliest convenience.