Most people know that workers’ compensation will pay for their medical treatment after they suffer an injury on the job or get diagnosed with a medical condition because of their employment. The 100% medical coverage through workers’ compensation is well-known.
While people also understand the idea that they can get disability benefits through workers’ compensation, they may have less of an understanding of how that program works.
How workers’ compensation handles disability claims
Once you have missed at least three days of work, you can potentially start receiving disability benefits. You won’t receive any pay for those first three days of missed wages unless your miss more than 14 days of work.
Illinois offers both short-term disability and permanent disability through workers’ compensation. Benefits can vary somewhat depending on whether you have a total or partial disability.
Your average wage and state limitations affect your benefits
Exactly how much you receive depends on your average weekly weight. The state calculates your benefits based on what you averaged for income over the last year. The maximum amount they will offer is two-thirds of that average wage.
However, if you have a higher-than-average income, your take-home percentage may actually be lower than that. Illinois has a maximum benefit amount that lawmakers routinely adjust based on inflation and average wages around the state. Currently, the maximum benefit you can receive regardless of how much do you usually earn is $1,693.76.
Obviously, the more you earn, the bigger the gap between what workers’ compensation will pay and what you usually make. Understanding the missed work benefits that you can claim will make getting by after a work injury a little bit easier for you.