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Workers’ Compensation: What to Expect from your Payments

one-69528_640You are now receiving weekly workers’ compensation benefits, but how do you know the payment amount is correct?

In Georgia, those who miss time from work due to a job injury are to receive two-thirds of the weekly pay, up to a maximum set by law. While the formula is a decent starting point to determining what to expect, there are a few extra factors to consider.

Seasonal Employees

If you’re a teacher or have another job that changes seasonally, it could affect the way your previous wages are calculated.

Service Industry Employees

Many service industry employees count on regular tips as a vital source of income. This type of inconsistent pay can complicate the formula, particularly if the employees doesn’t regularly declare that income. However, it should still be included for workers’ compensation purposes if the amount of tips can be determined.

Those with Multiple Jobs

Sometimes, an extra job is essential to making ends meet. If you hold multiple jobs and are injured at one of them, your claim might not be as straightforward. Will both jobs be counted toward your weekly payment? Sometimes they will, and sometimes they won’t. An attorney can help to answer these types of questions depending on the facts of your particular situation.

Overtime

Workers’ Compensation payments are calculated according to the 13 weeks’ wages prior to the injury. Your employer is supposed to submit all information regarding wages to the insurance company. Since overtime hours aren’t always consistent, a lot depends on the circumstances of those specific weeks. If you were injured during an especially busy time at work, you need to be sure that the employer included any overtime in the calculations.

Other Forms of Compensation

Often, employers will cover miscellaneous work-related expenses such as lodging or rent. Because these types of compensation can make a big difference, they need to be factored into the formula for Workers’ Compensation. However, employers and insurers often do not include this unless your attorney provides them the necessary information

Although these may seem like minor considerations, even small discrepancies can add up over time. It’s important to cover all your bases in a process as complicated as a Workers’ Compensation claim, but an attorney can help. Contact the experts at Perkins Studdard for a free consultation.

What if I have other questions about workers compensation?

Georgia’s workers compensation system can be very confusing.  You have to worry about getting the treatment you need and paying your bills while also worrying about not missing any deadlines that could cause you to lose your right to receive workers compensation benefits.

If you have questions, I would recommend that you try to get answers.  To find out more about how to schedule a time to talk to me about your workers compensation questions, just read this short article.

Jason Perkins is an attorney who specializes in representing injured workers.  He regularly publishes videos and write blog articles about Georgia’s workers compensation system and issues that are important to injured workers and their families. To be notified of Jason’s new workers compensation videos, subscribe to his Georgia Workers Compensation Video Series channel on YouTube by clicking the subscribe button below.

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Jason Perkins

Workers' Compensation Attorney

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