If you work at a job and you receive injuries while on the clock, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits pay for medical bills and help cover your loss of wages until you are able to return to work.
Some injuries prevent you from returning to the same job you had, and others may prevent you from working at any job. If this is the case, you may be able to receive disability benefits on a temporary or permanent basis.
Types of disability
According to the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission, a medical professional may state you cannot return to work for a certain amount of time, and this determines the type of disability and benefits you receive. There are four disability types:
- Temporary partial disability – You can return to work but with modified or light duty. Benefits supplement some of the lost wages if you make less than you did at your previous job.
- Temporary total disability – You are unable to return to work for a period of time due to injuries or surgery recovery. Benefits are 66 2/3% of your average regular wages.
- Permanent partial disability – Your injury will not improve much but you can work in some capacity. Benefits help cover the differences in income.
- Permanent total disability – You are unable to work in any capacity due to your injury. You will receive a percentage of your average wages weekly for a lifetime.
Additional disability benefits
According to FindLaw, your disability may make you eligible for additional disability benefits. You may be able to collect Social Security Disability Income if you contributed to Social Security recently and have a disability that prevents you from working for at least one year. You may be able to draw benefits from both SSDI and workers’ comp, although the amounts from one or both of the programs may be less.
