If you live in St. Petersburg, Florida, and have sustained any type of injury while performing your duties at your place of work or have a developed an occupational disease, then you have the right to pursue a claim for workers’ compensation benefits for damages sustained.
In Florida, any business that employs more than two people is required by law to have workers’ compensation insurance.
Workers’ compensation is important as it helps protect employers from being sued and allows employees to mitigate losses – workers’ compensation covers injured worker’s medical expenses, funeral expenses, lost income, and more.
Since there is a chance for your claim to be denied or undervalued, working with a St. Petersburg workers compensation lawyer increases your chances of receiving maximum benefits for injuries sustained.
If you are currently pursuing a workers’ comp claim in St. Petersburg, consider getting in touch with us at Florida Lawyers 360 for the legal counsel and representation you need.
Our attorneys are experienced and knowledgeable in the field and are ready to fight aggressively to protect your rights and ensure you receive the benefits you deserve. When it comes to your workers’ compensation benefits in Florida, we are your best bet.
Call us now to schedule a consultation with our workers’ compensation attorneys and have your case reviewed at no cost.
What Are the Florida Workers’ Compensation Income Limits?
Workers’ compensation provides all those involved, i.e., the employee and the employer, a variety of benefits.
It protects the employee’s best interests by compensating them for any losses that they may incur as a result of being injured while performing their duties. On the other hand, it protects employers from being sued by injured workers.
Any business that operates in Florida and employs more than two people is required to carry workers’ compensation insurance for it to be certified.
The rules that govern workers’ comp insurance policies typically vary from state to state, and the same applies to who qualifies for compensation and the income limits.
While that’s the case, workers’ compensation guidelines in all states in America have some similarities. For instance, workers’ comp benefits in each state cover things like court charges, lawyer’s protection costs, lawful expenses, the settlement, and more.
However, when it comes to how much can be paid out, each state has its regulations.
For instance, in Florida, the maximum amount an injured worker can receive on weekly basis in a temporary disability claim is $971.
On the other hand, in cases involving permanent total disability, injured employees receive yearly living adjustments until they celebrate their 62nd birthday.
Since each case is unique, to get an idea of how much your workers’ compensation income limit is, consider getting in touch with our professional St. Petersburg workers compensation lawyer.
Our attorneys have the experience and skills needed to help you calculate your benefits so you can have an idea of much to expect from your claim.
What Are the Available Workers’ Compensation Benefits in St. Petersburg?
Compensation in Florida is divided into four main groups, with each differing from the other based on recovery duration, injury characteristics, and type of injury.
Temporary Total Disability (TTD) Benefit
When workers get injured and have to take time away from work to recuperate or recover, they immediately qualify for temporary total disability benefits. However, it’s worth noting that temporary total disability comes with a few guidelines.
For instance, there’s the 7-day holding period – if the injured worker spends over 21 days recuperating, they’ll be compensated for the seven-day holding period.
Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) Benefit
If an injured worker or employee finally gets back to work but can’t earn as much as they did before due to their injury, they qualify for temporary partial disability.
The main purpose of TPD benefits is to compensate injured workers for the wages they lost and continue to lose due to lowered productivity.
Just like temporary total disability, temporary partial disability has a few guidelines, which include a seven-day holding period and a cut-off period of 500 weeks (which is extendable in some instances).
Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) Benefit
PPD is awarded to injured workers who’ve reached maximum medical improvement (MMI), which means that their injuries can’t improve any further.
When doctors declare MMI, it means that the injured worker will most likely have a permanent disability or injury that cannot be treated any further than medically possible. In most cases, the only solution that remains is managing the issue.
Planned Injury (PI) also applies when it comes to permanent partial disability and means that the injuries sustained by the worker affect his or her ability to work. The cutoff period for PPD is 200 weeks.
Permanent Total Disability (PTD) Benefits
Permanent Total Disability is a benefit that comes with very strict regulations and rules and is often not given unless an injured employee meets very specific guidelines.
For instance, PTD is only awarded to workers who’ve sustained permanent injuries to both eyes, legs, hands, or a combination of two crucial body parts.
At the same time, the benefit is only awarded to the injured worker until he or she reaches the age where he or she can start receiving retirement benefits.
How Are Workers’ Compensation Benefits Calculated in Florida?
There are a few factors that influence how workers’ compensation benefits are calculated in Florida with the main ones being the severity of worker’s injuries, his or her employment status, and how much they earn per week.
In Florida, injured workers are awarded two-thirds of their weekly average gross income for up to 13 weeks. In cases involving permanent damage benefit claims, injured workers receive 75 percent of their disability.
To learn more about workers’ compensation benefits and how they are calculated, get in touch with Workers Compensation Lawyers Coalition Florida to speak to an expert.
Does the State of Florida Tax Workers’ Compensation Benefits in St. Petersburg?
Workers’ compensation benefits in Florida aren’t taxed since they are intended to compensate injured workers for their injuries, losses, and expenses. In short, no benefits that workers receive through workers’ compensation insurance is taxed.
Need Help with Your Workers’ Compensation Case? Let Us Help
The St. Petersburg workers compensation lawyer at Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition Florida have years of experience handling workers’ comp claims and can tell you one thing – no case is the same.
And that is why we handle each case with the seriousness and attention it requires.
If you are currently planning on pursuing a workers’ compensation claim, and would like to know more about the process, and some of the benefits you can get, contact our legal team by dialing 954-448-7355.
Schedule a free consultation with our experienced St. Petersburg workers compensation lawyer for advice and assistance.
