Workers’ compensation helps employees who get hurt or sick because of their jobs. It gives them money and medical care so they can get better and go back to work. However, these benefits may have a time limit, and many people want to know, “How long can I get workers’ compensation benefits in California?”
How long can you receive temporary total disability benefits?
In California, if you cannot do your usual job because of a work injury or illness, you can get temporary disability benefits. These benefits help replace your lost wages. You can get these benefits until you can work again or until your doctor says you’ve recovered as much as possible.
However, there is a limit. You can get temporary disability benefits for up to 104 weeks within five years from the date of your injury. Some serious conditions like severe burns or chronic lung disease might allow benefits up to 240 weeks.
How long can you receive permanent disability benefits?
If your injury causes a permanent disability, you might get permanent disability benefits. How long you get these benefits depends on how disabled you are and if you can still work. You can receive permanent disability benefits for a set number of weeks based on how disabled you are. If your disability is total and permanent, you might get benefits for life.
How long do supplemental job displacement benefits last?
If you cannot go back to your old job because of a permanent disability, you might get supplemental job displacement benefits. These benefits come as a voucher for retraining or skill learning to help you get a new job. The voucher expires two years of you receiving them or five years from the injury, whichever is later.
How long do medical benefits last?
Medical benefits do not have a time limit. As long as you need treatment related to your work injury, workers’ compensation may cover your medical expenses. This includes doctor visits, hospital stays, surgeries and medications. The goal is to make sure you get the care you need to recover as fully as possible.
Understanding the duration of your benefits can help you protect your financial health
It is important to understand how long workers’ compensation can provide support so you can get all the benefits you deserve as you recover. This knowledge can help you plan your recovery and financial future.