How Long Can I Stay on Workers’ Comp in PA?
If you sustain an injury while on the job in Pennsylvania, you can apply for workers’ compensation to cover your medical bills, lost income, and other financial losses from your injuries. A natural follow-up question is then: How long do workers’ comp benefits in Pennsylvania last?
The answer to this question depends on the specific workers’ compensation benefit you are receiving. Depending on the specific benefits, you may be able to continue receiving workers’ compensation for the rest of your life. You can talk to a workers’ compensation attorney if you have more questions about workers’ compensation timelines in Pennsylvania.
What Benefits Does Workers’ Compensation in Pennsylvania Pay?
Workers’ compensation in Pennsylvania will pay for the following benefits after a work injury:
- Medical Coverage – Workers’ compensation in Pennsylvania will pay for the reasonable cost of medical services to treat and manage workplace injuries, including emergency care, surgeries, rehabilitation, prescriptions, and medical equipment.
- Total Disability Benefits – If your injuries prevent you from being able to work at all, you can receive weekly benefits for permanent total disability. Total disability wage replacement is typically equal to two-thirds of your average weekly earnings.
- Partial Disability Benefits – If your injuries reduce but do not eliminate your ability to work, workers’ compensation can pay up to two-thirds of the difference between pre- and post-injury average weekly earnings.
How Long Do Workers Compensation Benefits Last?
The length of workers’ compensation coverage depends on the specific benefit.
Medical Coverage
Timelines for medical coverage are straightforward. Workers’ compensation will cover your related medical treatments for the duration. It doesn’t matter if your injuries take a few months to heal or over a year – workers’ compensation will cover those costs no matter when you incurred them.
Total Disability Benefits
Similarly, there is no maximum limit for receiving total disability benefits from workers’ compensation in Pennsylvania. You can start receiving permanent total disability benefits if your injuries make you unable to work, and payments will continue for the duration of your disability. After two years (104 weeks) on total disability benefits, you may have to submit to a medical evaluation. If the evaluation determines you are more than 35 percent disabled, you can continue receiving total disability benefits indefinitely.
Permanent Disability Benefits
If you return to work with a partial disability that reduces your earning capacity, you can receive partial disability benefits for a maximum of 500 weeks, which is roughly equal to nine years.
When Can the Insurance Company Terminate My Workers’ Compensation Benefits?
It is rare to receive workers’ compensation benefits indefinitely. Below are situations where the insurance company can terminate benefits.
- You return to your previous job or obtain a new job in a similar field or industry
- A judge determines that you have fully recovered from your injuries, and the insurance company files a termination petition
- A workers’ compensation court judges that you are capable of returning to gainful employment, even if you haven’t actually returned
- You reach a lump sum settlement with the workers’ compensation insurance company for total benefits paid
Contact a Workers’ Compensation Attorney in PA Today
Injured workers deserve an attorney who will stand up for them when no one else will. Attorney Cindy Stine has over three decades of experience practicing workers’ compensation law and has forged a reputation as a fierce advocate for those injured on the job. Stine & Associates, P.C., can fight for the benefits you need to support yourself and your family after suffering a serious work injury. Contact our offices online or call today for a case consultation with a workers’ compensation attorney.