People who get hurt at work often worry about well the consequences of their injuries. If an injury is severe, a worker may need to leave in the middle of a shift to receive medical attention. They may also become temporarily unable to perform their job responsibilities because of their injuries. Someone may require both medical care and a leave of absence from work to fully recover from their injury. The combination of those two requirements could lead to significant financial challenges for the foreseeable future.
Workers’ compensation coverage exists in part to protect employed individuals from massive financial hardship related to work-acquired health issues. Eligible employees with conditions that require treatment or time away from work may qualify for medical and disability benefits through Georgia workers’ compensation. Who is potentially eligible to file a claim for benefits?
Those who work at covered businesses
The main consideration for benefit eligibility is suffering from a job-related work injury. The company they work for is another key factor. Eligibility depends on whether or not someone is an employee at a business that carries workers’ compensation coverage. The law in Georgia requires any business with three or more employees to invest in workers’ compensation insurance coverage. Therefore, employees who have two or more coworkers may be able to file a claim for benefits.
Coverage is available regardless of the industry in which someone works. Both full-time and part-time workers may qualify for benefits. The duration of someone’s employment has little impact on their eligibility. Someone hurt on the first day of a new job would theoretically have the same coverage available to them as someone who has worked for the company for years.
The only reason why an injured employee who works at a sizeable company might not be eligible for workers’ compensation would be that they are an independent contractor and not an employee. Self-employed professionals do not have the same workplace protections as those with a formal employment agreement in place. However, those misclassified as independent contractors while working like employees may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits if they take legal action.
Too many people go without workers’ compensation benefits because they don’t realize that they are eligible for them. Learning about the rules that determine who can apply for workers’ compensation in Georgia may help those recently hurt on the job to cover their costs as they recover.