A workplace injury doesn’t just take a physical toll. It takes a financial one, too, and for many people, the paycheck question hits almost immediately. How do I pay rent? What about my car payment? What happens to my family while I’m sitting at home unable to work?
These are real, urgent concerns, and the good news is that in Minnesota, workers’ compensation benefits exist to provide financial support to employees who get hurt on the job. Medical costs, partial wage replacement, rehabilitation services, and in serious cases, long-term wage loss payments are all potentially available. The challenge is actually getting what you’re owed.
At Meshbesher Law Firm in the Twin Cities, our experienced workers’ comp attorneys help injured workers fight for and obtain the benefits to which they are entitled.
Does it Matter Who Is at Fault?
The Minnesota’s workers’ compensation system operates on a no-fault basis. You don’t have to prove your employer was negligent. You don’t have to prove the accident was someone else’s fault. If the injury happened in the course of your employment, that connection to your job is generally what matters under Minnesota law.
Wage Loss Benefits Available
When people ask about income replacement, they’re really asking about wage loss benefits. There are three types.
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD) benefits apply when your injury temporarily prevents you from working at all. Under Minnesota law, TTD benefits are calculated at two-thirds of your average weekly wage at the time of the injury, subject to state-established maximum and minimum limits. For example, if you were earning $1,200 a week before the injury, you’d generally receive around $800 per week in TTD benefits. TTD benefits generally continue until you return to work, 90 days after you reach what’s called “maximum medical improvement,” or when you hit certain time limits established under Minnesota law.
- Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) benefits apply when you can return to work in some capacity but earn less than you did before the injury, perhaps because you’re on light duty or reduced hours. TPD benefits cover two-thirds of the difference between your pre-injury wage and your current reduced earnings. So, if you were making $1,000 a week and now you’re only able to earn $600 because of your restrictions, you may be entitled to roughly $267 per week in TPD benefits to help bridge that gap.
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD) benefits may apply when a work injury permanently prevents someone from returning to any gainful employment. These cases often involve severe injuries and can provide long-term wage replacement, though eligibility criteria and benefit calculations are subject to specific requirements under Minnesota law.
Vocational Rehabilitation: When You Can’t Go Back to Your Old Job
Minnesota law provides for vocational rehabilitation services when a work injury prevents someone from returning to their prior job. A Qualified Rehabilitation Consultant (QRC) can be assigned to help coordinate medical care and return to work, whether at the same employer or with a new employer. If a return to the same employer is not possible, the QRC will help with vocational testing and help facilitate job search.
Retraining programs are also available in appropriate cases. The insurer may be required to pay for tuition, books, and related educational expenses, and wage loss benefits can continue during approved retraining. These benefits can be a genuine lifeline for someone whose injury has closed the door on their previous career path.
Insurance companies don’t always inform injured workers about their rehabilitation rights. It is often a benefit you have to request or demand through your lawyer. Significantly, for example, have the right to choose your own QRC; you do not need to accept the choice of the insurance company. This is another important reason to seek legal help, as the choice of QRC can be impactful.
What Happens When the Insurance Company Tries to Stop Benefits
When an insurance company decides to stop paying wage loss benefits, Minnesota law requires them to file a Notice of Intention to Discontinue Benefits. You typically have a very short window to request an expedited conference to dispute the discontinuance. Missing that window can cause significant delays in getting the dispute resolved.
Insurance companies make mistakes and wage calculations are often done incorrectly. The average weekly wage determination, which forms the foundation of your benefit amount, can be quite confusing, particularly for workers with variable hours, multiple jobs, or irregular pay schedules. We won’t let our clients accept benefit amounts that were lower than what they are actually entitled to, simply because no one pushed back on the calculation.
Reach Out Before the Process Gets Away from You
If you’ve been hurt at work and you’re worried about how you’re going to pay your bills while you recover, contact our team at Meshbesher Law Firm as early as possible. Early consultation helps avoid the missteps that can limit your options down the road. We represent injured workers throughout the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area and the whole state of Minnesota, and we’re here to make sure you get what you’re entitled to under Minnesota law.
