Getting workers’ compensation benefits after a job injury can help people stay up-to-date on their mortgages and receive proper medical treatment. Virtually every employer in Idaho should carry appropriate workers’ compensation coverage to protect their organization against financial claims and its employees against injury-related personal hardship.
In theory, a workers’ compensation claim should be quick and relatively simple to process. In practice, workers’ compensation claims can become contentious and confusing, with workers needing to file appeals and get outside help before they receive full benefits.
Although an injury may seem like a personal emergency to a worker and therefore demand their immediate attention, their employer may not have the same sense of urgency. What happens when an organization seemingly delays the resolution of a workers’ compensation plan?
Employees must act quickly
A worker protects their rights to benefits by following state rules. For example, they must report the injury in writing within 60 days or run the risk of becoming ineligible for benefits. It can be very frustrating for someone who has complied with such rules to then find themselves in benefits limbo because their employer has not submitted the necessary paperwork.
If reaching out to a supervisor or someone’s contact in human resources does not yield results, the worker may need to submit paperwork to the Idaho Industrial Commission themselves. The state will process paperwork submitted by individual claimants in addition to accepting the same paperwork from the employer.
Having representation can help with a claim logjam
If the company that employs a worker isn’t communicative despite the worker’s attempts to discern the state of their claim and fulfill their obligations, sometimes bringing in professional help can make a big difference. Those with an attorney representing them will be better educated about their rights and will have a much easier time pushing back against manipulative tactics and overt misconduct by an employer or insurance provider.
A worker who will need benefits to cover treatment costs and replace their wages needs to ensure that they take the right steps in the claims process, and professional support is a means of avoiding oversights and mistakes that could undermine someone’s chance of getting benefits.
Identifying and preparing for common challenges that occur while Idaho workers’ compensation claims are being resolved can benefit those who have been injured or sickened on the job.