People with families generally pursue gainful employment so that they can financially support their spouses, children and other dependents. Employment provides regular wages and also valuable benefits, such as health insurance.
Unfortunately, jobs also come with risks. Some careers are more dangerous than others. Construction professionals, for example, are at risk of falling from an elevated location or coming into direct contact with electricity. Transportation professionals are constantly at risk of collisions.
Even those with seemingly safe careers could experience unusual incidents, such as violent crime or equipment failures, that have tragic outcomes. Sometimes, work incidents lead to workers dying. Other times, work-acquired medical conditions prove fatal. Workers’ compensation benefits don’t just protect those hurt on the job. Benefits can also provide support for families who have recently lost a loved one.
What benefits are available?
Workers’ compensation typically provides two main benefits for injured professionals. Employees are eligible for medical coverage if they require treatment. They may also qualify for disability benefits that replace their lost income. Surviving family members of a deceased employee might be eligible for both types of benefits.
Additionally, the state offers funeral benefits after workplace fatalities. Workers’ compensation can cover up to $8,000 of funeral, burial or cremation costs. Surviving family members can also use medical benefits to cover the cost of end-of-life care for their deceased loved one.
Workers’ compensation can replace a portion of the employee’s wages that they could have provided to support the family. Families can receive wage replacement benefits for up to 25 years or until payments add up to $500,000, whichever is greater.
Generally speaking, wage replacement benefits provide up to two-thirds of a worker’s average weekly wages. However, there are state maximum benefit levels that may limit the income-related benefits provided for surviving family members.
Families have a limited window of opportunity to initiate a workers’ compensation claim. They may need help navigating the application process and handling any negotiations about the benefits due after a fatal workplace incident.
Applying for workers’ compensation after losing a loved one can be a challenging process. Grieving families often need assistance learning about their rights and navigating the claims process, and that’s okay.
