QUALIFIYING FOR BENEFITS
To qualify for benefits, the employee (or family member in the case of the employee’s death) must establish, by medical evidence, that the traumatic injury, occupational disease or illness, or employee's death was causally related to his/her employment or that a pre-existing injury or illness was accelerated or aggravated as a result of employment.
BENEFITS AVAILABLE
Employees are eligible for six (6) basic types of benefits:
- Medical benefits (including transportation expenses)
- Continuation of Pay (COP)
- Wage loss compensation
- Scheduled awards
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Survivor benefits if employee dies as a result of employment
COMPENSATION RATES
Generally, in cases of total disability, an employee is entitled to compensation equivalent to two-thirds of the weekly salary if there are no dependents, or three-fourths of the salary if there are one or more dependents. Compensation is tax free. In establishing a person's wage rate, the law recognizes certain additional amounts that may be included in salary, such as premium pay, night and Sunday differential, holiday pay, hazard pay, dirty work pay, quarters allowances and post differential for overseas employees. Overtime pay is not included except for administratively uncontrollable work.
LIGHT DUTY
All reasonable efforts will be made to provide injured employees with light or alternative duty that is within the bounds of the employee’s medical restrictions as soon as the employee is medically able to work. Both supervisors and employees are expected to cooperate with light duty placement efforts.