Workers' compensation is a form of insurance that provides benefits to employees who are injured or become ill on the job. If an employee's work-related injury or illness prevents them from returning to work at their pre-injury wage, they may be entitled to supplemental income benefits. In this article, we will discuss an overview of Texas workers' compensation supplemental income benefits.
Who is Eligible for Supplemental Income Benefits?
In Texas, an employee may be eligible for supplemental income benefits if they have a permanent impairment rating of 15% or more and have not returned to work or are earning less than 80% of their pre-injury wage. The impairment rating is determined by a doctor and is based on the extent of the employee's injury or illness.
What Benefits are Available?
Supplemental income benefits are paid at a rate of 80% of the difference between the employee's pre-injury wage and their post-injury wage. The maximum weekly benefit is $702 per week, and the benefits are paid for up to 401 weeks.
How Do I Apply for Supplemental Income Benefits?
To apply for supplemental income benefits, an employee must file a request with the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation. The request must include documentation of the employee's impairment rating and wage information.
Once the request is received, the insurance company has 60 days to accept or deny the request. If the request is accepted, the insurance company will begin making payments. If the request is denied, the employee has the right to appeal the decision.
Conclusion:
If an employee's work-related injury or illness prevents them from returning to work at their pre-injury wage, they may be eligible for workers' compensation supplemental income benefits in Texas. These benefits are paid at a rate of 80% of the difference between the employee's pre-injury wage and their post-injury wage, up to a maximum of $702 per week. It is important to file a request for supplemental income benefits as soon as possible to ensure that you receive the full benefits that you are entitled to. Ryan Pigg can assist employees who have been injured or become ill on the job and help them navigate the process of filing a claim for supplemental income benefits.
