Where is my Workers’ Compensation check?
Injured workers often wonder how long it takes before they get their Workers’ Compensation check from the insurance company. If you have an accepted claim and are off work completely, your checks should come in the same increments as when you were working. If you got paid every two weeks before, you should get a Workers’ Compensation check every two weeks after you are injured.
Delays can happen if your adjuster does not have updated work restrictions from your medical doctor or if you fall off “auto-pay” or their automated payment system. That’s when your Fields Law Firm Workers’ Compensation attorney will call the adjuster to find out what caused the problem and get your check issued.
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Discontinued Workers’ Compensation Benefits
There are other situations that can occur that can cause your checks to be discontinued. If the Insurer has a “reasonable basis” for discontinuing your checks, they will issue a Notice of Intention to Discontinue Benefits. They have to list the reason for their discontinuance on the form.
Common reasons for discontinuance are that the injured worker does not have work restrictions, or that the injured worker has returned to work, or that their doctors are saying they do not need work restrictions. If you receive a Notice of Intention to Discontinue and you are still on work restrictions and working at less than full wages, you should contact a Workers’ Compensation attorney.
The Workers’ Compensation attorney can then request a .239 conference, which is a conference to discuss your wage discontinuance. If the Judge finds that you were discontinued improperly, then your Workers’ Compensation benefits will be reinstated and the Insurer has 14 days from the date of the Judge’s Order to mail out your Workers’ Compensation check.
Denied Workers’ Compensation Benefits
If you have been denied Workers’ Compensation benefits or a hearing is requested, it can take longer to get your benefits paid. If your claim is denied, you will likely not receive payment until your case is decided in your favor by a Workers’ Compensation judge or you settle your case. If you go to hearing, the Judge normally has 60 days to make his or her decision. Then the Insurer has 14 days to pay following the decision of the compensation judge.
Many injured workers struggle to pay their bills while they wait for their benefits to be reinstated or a settlement check. Our attorneys can help you understand what financial options and resources are available while you wait for your Workers’ Compensation Claim to get resolved.
Workers’ Compensation Settlement Checks
If you are offered a Workers’ Compensation settlement, the time from settlement to receipt of your check can vary depending on a variety of factors. The things that you can do to speed up this process are to:
- Tell your Workers’ Compensation attorney about all of your medical providers or insurance companies who might have paid bills related to the injury.
- Give your Workers’ Compensation attorney all of your medical bills and explanation of benefit statements from your insurance companies.
If your Worker’s Compensation attorney knows about all of the possible providers and insurance companies in advance of settlement, it will help to move the process along. If your attorney does not know about providers before settlement, then it will take at least 60 days to give the providers and insurers time to file their motions for intervention.
The Workers’ Compensation Settlement Process
When all of this information is received, the settlement paperwork can be completed. Your Workers’ Compensation attorney will receive a copy and review it to make sure the terms comply with the previously agreed upon terms of settlement. Your attorney will then send it to you for your review and signature. You will need your attorney to explain the paperwork to you before you sign.
Once the settlement paperwork is completed and approved, the other providers who filed Motions to Intervene need to be dealt with. All parties to the proceeding, including the Employee, the Insurer and all of the Intervenors need to sign off on the settlement paperwork.
This process can take various lengths of time depending on how many providers are involved and how long they take to respond to the attorneys. Once this part is done, the Stipulation for Settlement (or the settlement paperwork) can be filed with the court.
Once the Stipulation for Settlement is filed with the Court, the Judge will review the paperwork and make sure that there are no issues with it. If there are no issues, then the Judge will issue an Award. The Award will be mailed to all of the parties. The Insurer then has 14 days from the date the Award is served to issue your check.
How to Track My Workers’ Compensation Check?
Each state has a waiting period of between 3-7 days that you must be out of work before you can begin receiving benefits. If your claim is straightforward and there are no disputes, you can expect to receive your first check within two to three weeks after you’ve filed the claim and met your state’s waiting period.
If you haven’t received your check within that time frame, you may be wondering how to track your workers’ compensation check. Below is a number of ways you can learn the status of your check:
- Contact Your Adjuster: The best way to check on the status of your check is by speaking directly with the insurance carrier’s claims adjuster. This is the person responsible for processing your payments, and they can tell you exactly when and how the check was issued. Be sure to have your claim number handy.
- Check Your Online Portal: Many insurance companies and state workers’ compensation boards provide means for checking the status of a claim online. There you can view your payment history, upcoming payment dates, and view documents related to your case.
- Check Your Mail and Bank Account: Be sure to check that your mailing address is correct if you are expecting a physical check, or double check your banking information if you are expecting a direct deposit. Checking with both your insurance carrier and your employer is crucial to ensure that your check is sent to the correct address or bank account.
After taking these steps if you are still experiencing delays or have not received a workers’ compensation check, contacting a workers’ compensation attorney like Fields Law is your next step. A qualified injury lawyer can investigate the reason for the delay, and can take steps to ensure that you are paid the benefits you are owed promptly.
Why You Need a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
As you can see, Workers’ Compensation claims can be complicated. Our Workers’ Compensation Lawyers are here to explain your legal options and help you get the benefits you’re entitled to, both now and in the future. If you were injured at work, call our injury and disability law firm today for free, no-obligation advice and answers to your questions.
