Massachusetts law provides seven different benefits for workers with approved workers’ comp claims.
They include:
Temporary Total Incapacity Benefits. These benefits are 60 percent of an employee’s gross average weekly wage, and injured employees can collect them for up to three years.
Partial Incapacity Benefits. These benefits compensate injured employees for up to 75 percent of temporary total incapacity benefits for up to five years. Employees who can still work but need to work fewer hours or take a position that pays less typically qualify for partial incapacity benefits if their claim is approved.
Permanent and Total Incapacity Benefits. These benefits are two-thirds of an employee’s average weekly wage up to the state’s maximum allowed amount. They compensate employees with permanent disabilities who cannot return to work because of a workplace injury or illness. Permanently disabled employees can receive permanent and total incapacity benefits indefinitely.
Medical Benefits. Workers’ comp pays for medical expenses related to workplace injury and illness, such as prescriptions, mileage to and from the doctor, hospitalization, and various other reasonable medical expenses.
Permanent Loss of Function and Disfigurement Benefits. Those who have suffered a permanent loss of certain bodily functions or have scars or disfigurement on their face, hands, or neck qualify for a one-time payment. You receive these benefits in addition to other disability and medical benefits.
Survivors’/Dependents’ Benefits. Surviving spouses and minor children of an employee who died from a workplace illness or injury receive weekly benefits equal to two-thirds of the employee’s average weekly wage up to the state maximum.
Burial Expenses. If an employee dies from a work-related injury or illness, workers’ compensation pays for burial expenses.