Hopefully, you will be able to get through your entire work life without ever suffering an injury or illness. But should you ever experience such misfortune, you can usually file for workers’ compensation to offset your financial costs. However, the system that allows workers to receive appropriate compensation for on-the-job injuries is facing potential alteration.
Currently, Illinois lawmakers are considering making changes to the workers’ compensation system as a response to the state’s budget crisis. This move comes in spite of the fact that a recent report indicates that changes made in 2011 yielded decreased costs for employers.
Attorneys that represent injured workers, as well as medical providers, are not pleased by the prospect of the possible changes. At this point, no concrete proposals have been introduced to the public, so how workers will be affected is still up in the air.
Of course, getting a manageable budget is important for the state of Illinois, but so is making sure that injured workers have the opportunity to receive funds and other services that can help their recovery. But as this situation illustrates, it may become more difficult to get the compensation you deserve.
A workplace injury or occupational illness can seriously impact a worker’s ability to maintain his or her financial obligations. Not only might there be costly medical bills to pay, but time off from work could bring about serious economic hardships.
As such, if you should ever need to take advantage of benefits offered by the workers’ compensation system, an attorney may be able to help you get the funds you need for your recovery. An attorney who understands the compensation system can help you determine which benefits you are eligible for and make sure that your claim accurately reflects your needs.
Source: Illinois Times, “Battling over workers’ comp‘” Patrick Yeagle, June 9, 2016