New Jersey’s workers compensation system provides benefits to workers who suffer an occupational illness or are injured on the job. There are several different types of workers compensation benefits, depending on the type of injury or illness and the expected medical outcome. Learn more about the different types of benefits and how long you can collect workers comp in New Jersey.
Medical Workers Compensation Benefits
The workers compensation system pays medical expenses related to your workplace injury or illness. While you may be required to see a workers compensation insurance-approved doctor and undergo an Independent Medical Exam (IME), the medical costs to treat your injury or illness are covered under the program. Your medical expenses for the injury would be paid until you reach Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI).
Temporary Total Disability: How Long Does it Last in New Jersey?
Lost income is another benefit of the workers compensation program in New Jersey. If you are out of work for more than 7 days, you may be entitled to compensation for your lost income through temporary total disability. The amount of compensation for your lost income is based on your average weekly wage and is capped at 70% of your wages or salary, up to a certain maximum set by the state. For 2022, that maximum WC benefit amount in New Jersey is $1065/week.
Temporary total disability can last up to 400 weeks in New Jersey. You can continue to receive benefits until you are cleared to return to work by a doctor or you have reached your maximum medical improvement. Temporary total disability is the most common type of WC benefit in NJ.
Total Permanent Disability WC Benefits
After 400 weeks of temporary total disability, if you are still not able to return to work, you may qualify for permanent disability. If at some point your doctor determines that you’ve reached maximum medical improvement and believes that your injuries render you unemployable, you may qualify for permanent total disability.
In other words, if you are totally disabled due to a work related injury with no expected improvement in your condition and cannot work at all, you may qualify for total permanent disability benefits for the rest of your life, or at least 450 weeks.
Partial Permanent Workers Comp Benefits
If your workplace injury or illness reaches a maximum medical improvement but your doctor determines that you're partially permanently disabled, you may be eligible for partial permanent workers comp. What type of injury or illness you have determines how long you can receive benefits.
In New Jersey, certain injuries are named on the state of New Jersey’s schedule of disabilities and thus considered to be “scheduled losses.” This chart dictates how long you will receive benefits for loss of income.
Other injuries may still qualify for partial permanent disability WC benefits but are considered to be non scheduled losses. Non-scheduled losses are paid for up to 600 weeks at a maximum rate of 70 percent of your weekly wages.
Get Help with Your Workers Compensation Claim
You have the right to file a claim for benefits after suffering a work-related injury; however, the process of filing a claim and receiving benefits can be challenging. An experienced New Jersey workers compensation attorney can handle your case and protect your rights. If you’ve been seriously injured at work, you deserve maximum compensation.
At Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, we are dedicated to assisting clients throughout New Jersey and New York with their workers’ compensation cases. We have years of experience and the extensive resources you need to secure a fair case result. If you’ve been injured or your claim has recently been denied, contact us immediately to understand your options.