In California, temporary disability benefits pay you two-thirds of your average wage for up to two years. However, if you suffer a severe enough injury, your doctor might recommend you for permanent disability (PD) benefits.
Even if you can return to work, you still might receive permanent disability benefits if you suffer lingering issues. Keep reading to learn about common workplace injuries and how you apply for PD.
How do you receive permanent disability?
If you suffer a severe workplace injury, your doctor assesses the likelihood of full recovery. They also evaluate whether your workplace caused the disability. Once they decide, your doctor sends the report to a claims administrator.
The three most common workplace injuries
- According to the US Department of Labor, harmful exposure to a dangerous substance or environment had the highest injury rate per 10,000 workers in 2020. Workers suffered exposure injury at a rate of 54.9 per 10,000. The study only counted nonfatal injuries that caused missed work and focused specifically on the private sector.
- The second most common workplace injury is overexertion at 35.5 per 10,000 workers. Maintenance, factory and construction workers are the most susceptible to these types of damages.
- Finally, the third most common workplace injury is slips, trips or falls. Workers who fall at work due to improper working environments should qualify for workers’ compensation. It does not matter if you caused the injury yourself. If it happened at work, you still qualify for payment.
No one wants to suffer a permanent injury. However, California provides disability payments for laborers who injure themselves on the job. If you have a strenuous or hazardous job, make sure you know who your claims administrator is and how to initiate the compensation process.