South Carolina workers comp benefits exist to protect you if you sustain an injury in your workplace. These South Carolina workers comp benefits include compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, and help with long-term disability.
Medical Expenses
South Carolina workers comp benefits cover medical expenses. This includes medical care to treat you work-related injury or illness. Your doctors appointments, prescriptions, physical therapy, and other essential and reasonable parts of your treatment plan will be paid for you either through your employer or their insurance company. One thing to remember, however, is that you will need to go to the doctor(s) recommended to you by your employer or the insurance company. If you go to your own doctor, your medical expenses will have to be paid out-of-pocket and won’t be covered by South Carolina workers comp benefits.
Lost Wages
If you’re unable to return to work because of your injury or illness, you’ll be eligible to receive benefits to cover your lost wages. These are the wages that you would have earned if you were working during your time of recovery. You’re eligible for compensation for lost wages if you can’t return to work for at least 7 days. If you still can’t work after that time, you may be eligible for temporary total disability. Temporary total disability provides South Carolina workers comp benefits that cover your lost wages if you’re unable to return to work for at least 14 days.
Permanent Disability
There are a couple of options when it comes to disability that can affect what sort of South Carolina workers comp benefits you receive for compensation. If you’re permanently impaired by your injury or illness, you’ll likely be eligible for permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits. These are 2/3rds of your average weekly wage. The amount will then be multiplied by a number of weeks determined by the state schedule. The South Carolina Workers Compensation Commission also has a section to address permanent total disability (PTD). If you lose both of your hands, feet, arms, or legs or vision in both of your eyes, you’re considered totally and permanently disabled and are eligible to receive additional benefits. These South Carolina workers comp benefits also apply if you suffer from a combination of two of these losses, such as a hand and a leg or eye and arm. The Commission may consider other losses as well. When it comes to PTD, you’ll likely receive benefits at your total temporary rate for up to 500 weeks. Paraplegics, quadriplegics, and brain-damaged employees may be able to receive benefits for life.
What if you’re denied South Carolina workers comp benefits?
If your workers compensation claim is denied or you’re unhappy with the outcome of the benefits offered to you, you have the option to appeal. In this situation, we highly encourage you to seek help from an experienced workers compensation attorney. The lawyers at The Clardy Law Firm have years of experience and are knowledgeable of the South Carolina workers comp benefits system to ensure you get the compensation you need to recover.
