If you have sustained an injury on the job in Washington, you may be entitled to worker’s compensation. Workers’ compensation is a program that provides compensation for people who are unable to get to work due to a disability or injury incurred while at work.
You may be wondering just what forms of compensation are available? There are the general kinds of compensation benefits, and then four programs that cover specific groups of workers that offer different benefits.
Specific workers’ compensation programs
If you work in the energy industry, the U.S. Department of Labor says you may be entitled to participate in the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program. The Federal Black Lung program is for miners who have developed lung disease from working underground. The others are the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Program for seamen and the Federal Employees’ Compensation Program for federal government workers.
General workers’ compensation benefits
If you are not part of any of the above groups of workers, then your benefits will follow standard procedures. There are specific rules around reporting and certain qualifying details of the incident, but if you follow the process correctly, you can get access to a few forms of benefits.
Vocational rehabilitation will work on getting you healed and ready to go back to work as quickly as possible. Medical treatment may be paid for by your employer for the injury involved in the claim. Wage replacement benefits are also available to help restore the lost income of people who are no longer able to do their jobs.