Why Not Claiming Workers Compensation is one of the Worst Money Mistakes you can make
Disclaimer: This is a post for Turner Freeman
As many of you would know, my Mum had a serious work accident back at the end of May. While it's been three months and she has improved a lot in that time, there is still a long way to go in her recovery. The chances of her returning to work by the end of the year are not looking good, and if it wasn't for the Workers Compensation that has been covering her medical expenses, my Mum & step-Dad would not be in a very good financial position right now.
My Mum is lucky that she works for a company that takes it's obligation to it's workers seriously and has made sure that the Workers Comp part of the process has been relatively smooth sailing. But not everyone is as lucky and sometimes you need to go about claiming Workers Compensation for yourself.
When I was asked to write a post for Turner Freeman about why it's important to claim the Workers Compensation that you are entitled to, I was put in touch with Shalon Hilton, who currently works at the University of Queensland. She explained to me why not claiming Workers Compensation can be one of the worst money mistakes a person can make.
Worst Money Mistakes to Make
Life is expensive. It is expensive without letting silly decisions cost you more than they should. One of the biggest money mistakes to make is to not claim workers compensation if you have sustained an injury at work. Accidents can happen, and you may be out of work for a period of time.
What is workers compensation?
Workers compensation is a benefit that provides the wages lost if you are out of work due to an injury, or illness sustained in your workplace. Workers compensation can also cover medical expenses accrued during the course of your rehabilitation. If your claim is accepted, you can earn up to 85% of your weekly earnings. By not claiming workers compensation you could be paying out of your pocket for medical expenses without being reimbursed, and without being able to return to work for a period of time.Not saving
If you are tight with your budget, or living paycheck to paycheck, it is likely that being out of work for a long period of time will be detrimental to your current lifestyle. A workers compensation claim, keeps you safe from the unnecessary stress of bills on top of physical disability. Medical bills can continue to pile up if you are out of work for a long time; if you have not saved adequately, a workers compensation claim can help keep you afloat.Recurring injuries
In many cases work related injuries may recur, or may not heal properly enough for a lasting return to work. A workers compensation claim usually sees the injured person return to work as quickly as possible, and then the claim finalises. Seeking the advice of a personal injury lawyer like Turner Freeman can help you to stay on top of your finances, while seeking damages from long-lasting injury and medical expenses.Be proactive
Time is essential when it comes to workers compensation claims. One mistake you can make is to not put a claim in as soon as you are able. Claims are time sensitive from the time when the injury, or illness occurs. The timeframe is usually six months from when the injury occurred. Claims can be made past this time limit, but a more detailed account and reasonable justification must be added. In order to make sure your claim is processed as quickly as possible, you should put it in as soon as possible.Workers compensation is a way to help keep you financially stable if you get injured at work. With an injury out side of your control, without guarantees of a timely return to work, and without the safety of a probable paycheck, not making a claim would be a mistake. Workers compensation is put in place to aide you when you are unfit to return to work. Although this benefit is put in place, it would be wise to seek the advice of a lawyer in case your absence is long-lasting and your medical expenses begin to pile up.
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| Mum's Workers Comp has paid for her to be set-up with all of the amenities she might need and would have access to in hospital, but in the comfort of her own home. |
Have you ever had an accident at work? Did you have any problems with gaining access to Workers Compensation?
Disclaimer: I was compensated for my time to write this post. The information given above is of a general nature and should not be taken as professional legal advice.
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