How To Check Your Workers’ Compensation Check Status In NY
Most people who suffer an injury at work are worried about the financial impact an injury may represent on them and their families.
In the state of New York employers are required to provide their employees with workers’ compensation benefits. To be able to receive these benefits, the injured worker must file a claim with their employer’s insurance company.
The process to have your workers’ compensation claim approved can take a few weeks but once it is approved you will need to wait until you start receiving payments.
In New York, you can check your workers compensation claim status online. To check the status of your check you can contact the adjuster of the insurance company that is handling your case or directly to your employer. Some insurance carriers also offer the option to review your check status online.
To check your workers’ comp claim status you can go to the Worker’s Compensation Board website. There you can check your eCase. You will need to register for eCase to be able to see your case folder. Each folder contains information about your claim and the contact information of the parties involved. Only parties of interest can have access to the folder.
How do I know if my workers’ comp claim is approved?
If your workers’ compensation claim was approved, you should receive a letter in the mail notifying you about the approval. This usually happens a couple of weeks after the case has been filed and the investigation performed by the insurance company adjuster has ended. If you have not received any notification, you can also proactively ask for updates.
One of the easiest ways to check the progress of your workers’ compensation claim is by going to the website of the Workers’ Compensation Board and checking your eCase:
http://www.wcb.ny.gov/content/ebiz/ecase/ecase_overview.jsp
Another practical way to know if your claim was approved, is by calling the workers compensation insurance company. You should have a case number that can be used to identify your claim. That way a representative from the insurance company or the adjuster can provide you with information about your case.
If your workers’ compensation claim was approved, you should receive a letter in the mail letting you know about it.
How long can I collect workers’ compensation in New York state?
In New York, injured workers can be out on workers’ compensation for a maximum amount of weeks. This amount is determined by the amount of money an employee loses when they are unable to work and earn their usual earnings.
The time you can be out on workers’ compensation ranges from 225 to 525 weeks. However, depending on your unique circumstances, the number of weeks and amount of money you can collect from workers’ compensation for your work-related injury each week will vary.
To be able to accurately calculate the number of weeks that you can be out on workers’ compensation, contact a lawyer who specializes in workers’ comp cases.
How long does it take to get a workers’ comp check in NY?
After your claim has been approved you should start receiving your payments within a few weeks. Just keep in mind that you will not receive compensation for the first seven days of disability if your injury did not prevent you from working more than 14 days.
How often should workers’ comp checks come?
You should receive your workers’ compensation checks with the same frequency you received your salary. That means that if you used to get paid bi-weekly, your workers’ compensation checks will be issued bi-weekly as well. Nonetheless, it is possible that you may not always receive your check on time.
In some cases, there are fluctuations in the U.S Postal service that may cause checks to arrive late.
After a claim: what does workers’ compensation cover?
Workers’ compensation benefits cover the following:
- Medical expenses: This includes visits to the doctor, surgeries, emergency room visits, and medicine.
- Lost wages: Employees that got hurt while performing their job are entitled to recover a portion of the wages they lost due to not being able to work for a certain period of time.
- Ongoing care: In some cases, workers that suffered an injury at work cannot fully recover without physical therapy or other types of medical care. This medical care is covered by workers’ comp benefits.
- Funeral costs: If the employee lost their life after a work-related accident, workers’ compensation benefits will cover a portion of the funeral expenses.
Do I need an attorney to file a worker’s compensation claim?
While it is not mandatory to hire an attorney to file a workers’ compensation claim, doing so can greatly increase your chances of receiving fair compensation.
Keep in mind that most workers’ compensation claims are approved but that does not mean that the compensation received by those workers was what they deserved.
Insurance companies will try to pay as little as possible and they also use some tactics to push injured workers to accept settlements that are not fair. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney will help you build a solid case and demonstrate the seriousness of your injuries.
An attorney can also negotiate with the insurance company and try to get the best deal possible for you.
Greenberg & Stein P.C. is a law firm in New York that has some of the best attorneys in the state.
Our legal team has vast experience handling cases related to work injuries. Our attorneys have helped numerous workers receive the compensation they deserve after suffering an injury at work.
Remember that you should not be financially responsible for the medical bills and other consequences that a work-related injury may cause you. If you need help with your workers’ compensation claim, do not hesitate in contacting us. Call us at 212-681-2535 to schedule a free consultation to review your case.