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Minnesota Workers' Compensation: What Benefits Can an Injured Employee Get?

By: Steve28 Fields 28

Workers Compensation in Minnesota: Benefits For an Injured Employee
If you are injured on the job, there are four main types of workers compensation benefits in Minnesota that you may be entitled to:

1. Minnesota Lost Wages Benefits

Wage loss benefits are the most extensive and complicated benefits of Minnesota workers compensation law.

If an employee is hurt and cannot work at all, he may be eligible for "Temporary Total Disability" benefits (TTD). The workers compensation laws in Minnesota do not define Temporary Total Disability. However, cases have defined it as the inability to hold or find employment caused or substantially contributed to by the work injury. These benefits pay the employee 2/3 of his average weekly wage subject to a maximum amount and a maximum time frame.

If the inured employee is able to work--but not in the same capacity and at a lower rate of pay--they may be entitled to "Temporary Partial Disability" benefits (TPD). This is defined as the reduction in earning capacity caused or substantially contributed to by the work accident injury. For instance, this would apply to a worker who made $20.00/hour before his injury, and after the injury could only perform "light duty" work for $15.00/hour. Temporary Partial Disability Benefits are calculated based upon 2/3 of the difference between the worker's average weekly wage on the date of the injury (plus statutory cost of living adjustments), and what the worker is actually able to earn in his or her partially disabled state. This, like Temporary Total Disability benefits, is subject to MN statewide maximums.

In some circumstances, the employee may be eligible for "Permanent Total Disability" benefits (TTD). Minnesota law has changed several times in defining Permanent Total Disability. In addition, whether an employee's condition is actually permanent often depends on the employee's future improvement by vocational or medical rehabilitation. There are also benefits that will offset Permanent Total Disability benefits, including SSDI benefits, social security retirement benefits, state retirement benefits, PERA benefits, and police and firemen relief association benefits.

If an employee suffers an accident at work resulting in death, the employee's surviving dependents are entitled to dependency benefits. The exact amount of the dependency benefits depends on several factors, including whether the employee's marital status and whether the employee has dependent children.

2. Minnesota Medical Benefits

Medical benefits are one of the most basic claims sought under workers compensation. Minnesota law provides in detail the available medical benefits for an injured employee. Disputes often arise regarding the employee's entitlement to those benefits, and whether the medical benefits are reasonable and necessary. In general, in order for medical benefits to be compensated, they must be reasonable, necessary, and causally related to the employee's work injury.

3. Minnesota Vocational Rehab Benefits

Vocational rehabilitation assistance is in some cases available for injured workers. ("Physical" rehabilitation is considered medical treatment, and is referenced in "Medical Benefits" above.) The goal of vocational rehabilitation is to restore the injured worker to an economic status as close as possible to that which the employee would have enjoyed without the disability. Employees must meet certain criteria to be considered a "qualified employee" who is eligible for these benefits. Typically, it means that the employee is permanently prevented from performing their usual occupational duties because of the work injury, has no reasonable expectation of a return to suitable, gainful employment with the employer, and that rehabilitation services can reasonably result in a return to suitable gainful employment.

4. Minnesota Permanent Partial Disability Benefits

Permanent Partial Disability benefits are payable for the loss of use of an injured part of the body, or a permanent impairment due to a work injury. The amount of these benefits depends on the permanency rating assigned to the injured worker, which is decided based upon a schedule for different types of injuries. It is also important to remember that no money is awarded for pain and suffering under the Minnesota workers compensation system.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

About the Author:
Minnesota personal injury attorneys. The firm's practice includes workers compensation, pharmaceutical litigation, wrongful death, RSD, car and truck accidents, burn injuries and disability. To learn more about Minnesota work accident attorneys please visit our website.

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