Can You Collect Workers Compensation and Retirement?

Workplace accidents might not be as commonplace as they used to be, but they can still wreak devastating effects. Although the rates of workplace injuries in Indiana have gone down, an accident that can occur in a split second can leave impacts that can last a lifetime.

If you’ve recently suffered a workplace injury or you’re about to retire, you may be wondering what benefits you’re due under the law. Retirement can also affect the amount you can get, which is why it’s important to know how the law defines how much you can get.

Understanding Workers Compensation

Simply put, workers compensation, or workers comp, is a process that lets workers claim speedy compensation arising from workplace injuries. The process is designed to ensure that workers do not have to go through lengthy court processes to claim compensation for accidents at work.

To prove eligibility for workers comp, you have to prove that you suffered an injury that arose out of or was connected to your employment. There may or may not be negligence on the part of the employer, but the crucial element is that the workplace conditions were a cause of the accident leading to your injury.

Workers comp covers the expenses that you incurred as a result of the injury. This includes medication and hospitalization expenses, along with at least partial income you may have lost due to being unable to work.

It is also important to note that workers comp includes not only work-related physical injuries but also work-related illnesses. This means that if you get sick due to your employment, you may also be eligible for workers comp.

How Does Retirement Affect Your Eligibility to Claim Workers Comp?

As you reach retirement age, you become eligible to receive Social Security benefits. While you may think that you can combine your retirement benefits with workers comp, the truth is, you can only receive one or the other.

This means that once you claim your retirement benefits, in most cases you are no longer entitled to claim workers comp.

Talk to a Workers Comp Lawyer

Whether you need workers comp or retirement benefits, the institution with the obligation to pay your benefits is not always cooperative.

In the case of workers comp, the workplace or the insurer may try to disclaim liability by trying to disprove any connection between your injury or sickness and your employment. If they agree to pay, you might find that they are only willing to pay much less than what you deserve.

If you’re about to retire, you might also be wondering which options are available to you. At Kooi Law, our workers’ comp lawyers can help you assess the different legal options available to you and help you fight for your right to claim the compensation you deserve.

Call us now at 317-569-1335, and let’s talk about how we can help you!