Regardless of the nature of your job or the industry in which you work, you may at some point develop an illness connected to your employment or be hurt while at work. If this happens, you may file a claim for assistance via the state’s workers’ compensation program.
The Virginia workers’ compensation program offers multiples types of benefits based on the nature of your injury or illness and the extent to which your condition prevents you from working.
Temporary and permanent disabilities
One of the factors that the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission evaluates when assessing a claim for workers’ compensation benefits is whether or not you may recover from your injury or illness. The benefits available for a disability expected to last a lifetime may vary from those expected to last for a limited length of time. These are referred to as either permanent disability benefits or temporary disability benefits.
Total and partial disabilities
In addition to the duration that your disability may last, the extent to which you are impaired by your injury or illness may impact what benefits you may be eligible for. Some injuries or illnesses result in you being completely unable to work in any capacity. Other conditions may prevent you from working in your original line of work but capable of working in a different type of job. Depending on your case, you may apply for either total disability benefits or partial disability benefits.
More information about the types of benefits that may be available to you after a work-related accident may be found on the injured or ill employee’s assistance page of our Virginia workers’ compensation website.