Wage Benefits

Georgia Workers' Compensation Lost Wages

Georgians who have been injured at work may face financial difficulty if that injury prevents them from returning to their jobs. Fortunately, employers are required to purchase Georgia workers’ compensation insurance to help keep their employees afloat in case of an on-the-job injury. If a worker qualifies to receive workers’ compensation benefits, the compensation he or she collects may cover a number of expenses related to an injury. Among these are wage benefits, designed to help cover the financial burden of lost wages from time out of work.

If you have been injured on the job, contact our workers’ compensation attorneys by filling out our free case evaluation form today.

Lost Wages in Work-Related Injuries

Especially for workers that are supporting a family, lost wages can be a tremendous burden, causing stress, emotional tension, and loss of property. Georgia workers’ compensation wage benefits pay two-thirds the amount of a worker’s normal wages had he or she been able to remain on the job. However, there are certain constraints that dictate how this is calculated and when the worker may begin collecting money.

The amount of wage benefits is calculated based on a worker’s wages in the 13 weeks leading up to the injury that caused them to leave work. These wages are then averaged by the week, and the worker receives two-thirds of this amount. There is a yearly cap on the amount of wage benefits a worker may receive, which can change from year to year. However, an employee must miss seven consecutive work days in order to qualify for these benefits. 

Before a worker can receive wage benefits, an authorized doctor must confirm that an employee is sufficiently injured to keep him or her from returning to work. Unfortunately, an injury victim’s primary physician may not qualify to provide this diagnosis. Workers who are unsatisfied with their workers’ comp doctor’s diagnosis may apply for a second opinion.

Once a worker has been approved for these benefits, he or she may have to wait before receiving them. Georgia workers’ compensation lost wage benefits are payable 21 days after the first day of work that an employee has missed. It is important that workers scrutinize the amount of compensation they are being given; benefits are often miscalculated, and sometimes are denied.

Georgia Workers’ Compensation Attorneys

The process of applying for and receiving wage benefits can be stressful and confusing in and of itself, not to mention the pressure that the actual injury places on the worker. Hiring an experienced workers’ comp lawyer can help to ensure that you are being paid the full amount of benefits you are entitled to, and that the true nature of your injuries is clear to the insurance company. If you have been injured on the job in Georgia, contact our experienced workers’ compensation attorneys for a free consultation. We are here to help those who are not receiving the compensation to which they are entitled for their on-the-job injuries.