If you suffer an injury at work and need time off to recover, then you may qualify for benefits that will pay you for the wages you have lost as a result. You should note there are restrictions to when you can get paid and if you qualify.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, you cannot claim lost wage benefits until you miss seven days of work. You may start getting your payment on the eighth day, but you will not receive payment for the first seven missed days until you miss a total of 14 days.
Qualifying for benefits
Besides having to miss seven days of work to qualify, you also must receive a determination that you are totally disabled, which means that you cannot work at all, or if you are partially disabled and not able to earn as much as you did prior to the injury. Your status may be under review periodically. For total disability, you receive a review after 104 weeks and you must be 35% impaired to retain the status.
Payment amount
You will not receive your full wages in benefit payments. Workers’ compensation only pays out two-thirds of your average weekly earnings. There is also a maximum threshold that is the highest amount anyone can get in benefit payments. There are no cost of living increases even if you receive benefits for a long time.
First payment
Your first payment will likely not come until you have been off work for at least 21 days. After your first payment, you will receive regular weekly benefits.
