Job injuries are disproportionately higher in Florida, mostly because the Sunshine State has a disproportionate number of LEP workers. Limited English Proficiency individuals speak a non-English language at home and self-describe their English skills as average or worse.

Workers’ compensation, a no-fault insurance plan that compensates injured workers for their economic losses, was part of the grand bargain between workers and management. Workers surrendered their right to sue in court if management provided a streamlined compensation system.

The post-filing waiting period in Florida follows a rather complex seven-day/twenty-one-day rule. Initially, benefits begin seven days from the filing date. If the disability lasts more than 21 days, the victim receives retroactive benefits for the first seven days. This rule does not apply to medical payment benefit.

That is a long question with a short answer, which is “yes.” It’s also a question we hear much more frequently in the post-COVID era. Before the pandemic, 7% of workers with jobs that can be done remotely are working from home all of the time.

Following the right steps when filing a workers’ comp case in Largo is more important than ever. Seven straight years of premium declines have drained money from the system. So, if possible, Claims Examiners want to weed out claims before addressing their merits.

When, not if, your application for Social Security Disability benefits is denied, that finding does not mean your claim is weak or meritless. State Disability Determination Services officers outright deny about two-thirds of all claims.

If you have a permanent disability and a sufficient amount of work credits, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. In 2023. The average monthly cash benefit was $1,500. Most people cannot live on $1,500 a month.

Maybe. Drug use at the time of injury is one of the only legal defenses to a workers’ compensation claim. The other big one is a horseplay injury (an at-work injury that’s not related to basic job functions).

The average wait time for a workers’ compensation Administrative Law Judge appeal hearing in Florida is over seven months. Wait times at the overworked and understaffed Social Security Administration are even longer.

The extended waiting period for workers’ compensation benefits in Florida, which is usually 21 days, is a leftover provision from the former pro-insurance company workers’ compensation law.

A disabling and permanent illness or injury qualified individuals to receive Social Security Disability cash and medical benefits.

The line between a permanent and temporary work-related disability moves depending on the victim’s maximum medical improvement.

The work-from-home revolution is apparently here to stay, much to the chagrin of office managers and insurance companies.

Some pandemic-related workplace changes appear to be permanent. Although the coronavirus pandemic is over, about a third of Florida employees still work from home, at least on a part-time basis.

We hear this question a lot. Approximately a quarter of Florida workers have a partial disability, usually due to an old injury or a chronic medical condition.

Back in the day, injured workers had practically no rights. They could file injury claims in civil court, but back in those days, bosses could easily squash these claims and force injured workers to settle their claims for pennies on the dollar.

Applying for Social Security disability benefits seems fairly straightforward. However, the Social Security Administration (SSA) denies thousands of applications every year.

This process almost always includes an initial denial. Since 2013, the initial workers’ compensation claim denial rate has increased 20%.

The DLI is crucial for determining Social Security Disability benefits eligibility. Basically, the applicant’s disability must have occurred while the applicant was still employed and earning work credits.

Yes. In fact, Florida’s waiting period, which is 21 days, is much longer than the waiting period in most other states. Until very recently, workers’ compensation laws in the Sunshine State were worker-unfriendly.

We hear this question often, mostly because many SSDI applicants are over 50, as outlined below.

Usually, half of Social Security Disability benefits paid are always tax-free. The other half may be subject to federal income tax, depending on your filing status and income amount.

The answer to this question depends on your definition of “short-term disability.” By law, SSD benefits are only available if a disability is expected to last at least a year or cause the applicant’s death. Many injury-related claims, which account for about half of SSD matters, are basically short-term disabilities.

Under federal law, substance abuse could be a contributing factor to a physical, emotional, or other disability.

The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program was created by Congress to provide monetary benefits to those persons that were not old enough to retire but had suffered from a disabling sickness or injury.

Programs administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) can be complex and confusing.

There are many reasons people must travel between different states for work. Contractors often have to travel from state to state, and executives and managers often have to be in different areas of the country at different times of the year.

Of all the many things that came from the COVID-19 pandemic, the rise in remote workers was one of the biggest. In fact, a nationwide study conducted in October of 2021 found that nine out of ten workers want to continue working remotely in some capacity moving forward. Remote work has many benefits,

Our Pasco County workers’ compensation attorney explains waiting periods and time limits associated with workers’ compensation claims in Florida.

Find out what you need to know about job-related injuries that happen while working from home and your rights to workers’ compensation benefits in Florida.

Most employers in Pasco County and throughout the state of Florida are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance.

Even with all the awareness campaigns today, people are still hesitant to see mental injuries the same way they view physical injuries. This is perhaps no more apparent than in Florida’s workers’ compensation system. If you have suffered a mental injury at work that requires you to attend mental health appointments, you may be able to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits.

It is natural for employees to become worried when the company they work for goes out of business.

While recreational marijuana is still illegal in the state of Florida, lawmakers have made the use of medical marijuana legal.

When on the job accidents or occupational injuries happen, it can impact your ability to work now and for years to come.

On-the-job accidents can happen in any occupation. As a result, you could be left with serious injuries that impact your ability to work, both now and in the years to come.

While vaccines, social distancing, and other safety measures have put a dent in the COVID-19 pandemic nationwide, Florida continues to see a high number of cases.

Workers' compensation in Florida helps to protect employees when accidental injuries happen. To be eligible for benefits, your injuries have to be work-related.

Accidents can happen on any worksite, but construction workers are among those most at-risk. The injuries they suffer have the potential to be life-threatening.

Long-term disabilities can happen as a result of accidental injuries, sudden illnesses, or chronic medical conditions. When they prevent you from working, Social Security disability benefits provide a safety net. Unfortunately, getting the benefits you are entitled to can prove challenging.

One of the unexpected impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic is the realization that many jobs previously performed in an office could just as easily be done from home. Even now that a vaccine is available and case counts are dropping, many companies are continuing to offer remote work as an option. While this can provide numerous advantages, you may be wondering how it impacts your rights regarding certain types of benefits. If you get hurt on the job while working from home, can you still get workers' compensation benefits?

As COVID-19 cases continue to level off throughout Florida, many people who have been laid-off or working from home during the pandemic are being called back to their jobs. Reopening work sites is an encouraging sign, but there are still risks. To protect themselves against liability if an employee contracts COVID-19 on the job, many companies are now requiring workers to sign waivers. While this is within their rights, it does not limit yours in filing a workers' compensation claim, particularly if your employer failed to take the proper precautions to protect you.

In an ongoing effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19, many companies have employees working from home. While this provides certain advantages, it also poses risks.

Despite ongoing concerns over COVID-19 in New Port Richey, businesses are open and employees have been back on the job for months. However, the pandemic itself is far from over and the number of cases have increased steadily in recent months.

Businesses throughout New Port Richey continue to reopen, despite ongoing concerns regarding COVID-19. Employees who end up being exposed to the virus could find themselves seriously ill and unable to work.

Reducing fall accidents and fall-related deaths in the workplace is a top priority In the construction industry, falls are a leading cause of death. Indeed, as reported by OSHA, falls from elevation accounted for nearly one-third of all deaths amongst construction workers in 2018.

If you have been injured at work, you are entitled to workers' compensation, regardless of the country's unemployment rate. As a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic, unemployment rates have risen dramatically. The unemployment rate in the U.S. is at about 11% as of June 2020; before the pandemic, it was under 4%.

Workers' compensation provides financial compensation to pay for a workers' medical benefits, as well as a portion of their lost wages, if they are injured while on the job. While any activities that happen at work or in the designated physical working space are usually covered under workers' compensation, whether or not workers' compensation coverage applies for injuries that do not happen at work may be less clear.