Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Iowa

If you’ve been approved for workers’ compensation benefits, you can breathe a sigh of relief. While you are unable to work, you’ll still be able to support yourself. But you may not be aware of what areas will be covered by your benefits. Read on to learn more about what you can expect to receive when you begin collecting workers’ compensation.

Replacing Your Income

The amount of compensation you will be able to receive will depend on the severity of your injuries and your weekly income before being injured. Injuries are classified into six different categories:

• Temporary Total Disability – These benefits are available for injuries lasting at least four days. The injured employee will receive up to 80 percent of his or her income, but not more than the weekly maximum of $1,500, until he or she is able to return to work or find other reasonable employment.
• Temporary Partial Disability – If an injured employee is in recovery but able to work at a lesser-paying position, he or she will be able to obtain up to 66 percent of the difference in income until he or she is able to return to the pre-injury position.
• Healing Period – Here, any worker who is permanently disabled due to a work injury or illness will receive 80 percent of his or her income from the date of the accident, until he or she is able to return to work, receives a permanent diagnosis, or finds gainful employment.
• Permanent Partial Disability – This is available to injured employees who were permanently disabled but will still be able to work. They will collect up to 80 percent of their prior weekly income, without exceeding the $1,500 limit, from the day the healing period benefits end until they reach the allotted number of weeks based on Iowa guidelines.
• Permanent Total Disability – When an injured employee is left permanently disabled and no longer able to work any type of job, he or she can receive 80 percent of his or her pre-injury income, no more than the maximum of $1,500, for as long as he or she is considered permanently disabled.
• Death – These benefits are available to spouses or dependent children from the date of the victim’s death until the spouse remarries, or for life, and until the dependent children reach eighteen years of age. The amount will be up to 80 percent of the deceased’s weekly income, not exceeding $1,500 per week.

Classifying your injury can be a complex process, which is why it is important to include all relevant medical information in your initial claim for Iowa workers’ compensation benefits.

Coverage of Your Medical Costs

Workers’ comp will supplement your lost income, but it will also cover medical expenses incurred as a result of your injuries. These expenses include but are not limited to the following:

• Copays
• Hospital bills
• Occupational or physical therapy
• Medical equipment
• Adjustments to your home to accommodate medical equipment
• Prescription medications
• Transportation costs to and from doctor visits

Your employer will have designated a doctor to treat your injuries. In the event that you disagree with the diagnosis of the employer-provided physician, you may obtain a second examination.

The Workers’ Comp Benefits You’ll Receive in Iowa

Once you are approved for workers’ compensation benefits in Iowa, you will be able to receive income to supplement your lost wages while you recover. State law will allow a maximum of 80% of your weekly earnings, not to exceed approximately $1,500.

The severity of your injury and the length of time you will need to be out of work will also have an impact on the amount you will receive. For example, someone with a broken arm may be off work for weeks to heal, but healing is a possibility. A person with a permanent traumatic brain injury, however, may never be able to return to their previous position.

The medical expenses that result from your work injury should be taken care of by the insurer. This should include transportation costs to and from treatment, prescription medications, hospital bills, surgeries, and rehabilitative services, among various other healthcare costs.

To make your recovery a little easier, if your claim is currently in dispute, your medical provider cannot bill you for your treatment and recovery until the status of your claim becomes final.

Benefits Available to Iowa Workers with Permanent Injuries

For those who suffer a permanent injury, two main types of benefits are offered: permanent partial disability and permanent total disability. Benefits paid for permanent partial disability workers' compensation are further divided into two main types, depending on what body part is affected. They are:

• Scheduled member disabilities – A scheduled member disability is an injury to a specific body part as named by the workers’ compensation commission. For each scheduled member, benefits are offered for a specific number of weeks, depending on the nature of the injury. Scheduled member injuries involve the finger, hand, arm, leg, foot, toe, eye, and hearing.
• Unscheduled disabilities – An unscheduled disability occurs when an injury results in a permanent impairment that does not involve a scheduled member. It is known as an industrial disability and is compensated according to the percent that the disability reduced the person's earning capacity. Unscheduled injuries most often involve the neck, back, shoulder, and hip.

Impairment Rating: How It Affects Permanent Disability Benefits

All workers' comp permanent disability benefits are significantly affected by what is known as the impairment rating. The impairment rating is set by a workers' compensation doctor and is intended to reflect the degree of the impairment. This rating is determined once the worker has recovered as fully as possible and is expressed as a percentage. In Iowa, injured workers receive compensation that is equal to the impairment rating.

For example: If a worker suffers an injury to his arm that results in limited motion and pain, a doctor will assess the injury to determine how much it impacts his ability to perform daily functions. The doctor may conclude that the rating in this case is 75 percent. This rating is then applied to the number of weeks as set by the scheduled member appendix. Iowa law states that the loss of use of an arm is equal to 250 weeks of compensation, so this worker would receive pay for 75 percent of 250, or 187.5 weeks.

The impairment rating is crucial for workers who suffer a permanent disability. Even a small change in the rating could result in a significant difference in the compensation awarded.

If you or someone you love has suffered a permanent injury, you may be entitled to Iowa workers’ compensation benefits. The compensation available to you depends on the nature and severity of your injuries, and an experienced attorney can help you understand your rights to obtain the maximum compensation possible.

Damages Not Covered by Iowa Workers’ Comp Benefits

Workers’ compensation coverage is designed to cover only the economic costs associated with your injury, which include supplemental income and medical expenses. Non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of consortium, and loss of enjoyment of life, will not be covered when determining the amount of benefits you will receive.

To obtain compensation for non-economic losses, you would have to file a personal injury claim against the negligent party. A third-party claim refers to a legal action that an injured worker may take against someone other than their employer who is deemed responsible for the injury.

Common types of third parties in work injury cases in Iowa include:

• Contractors or Subcontractors: If a worker is injured on a construction site, for example, by the negligence of a contractor or subcontractor not directly employed by the injured worker's employer, a third-party claim may be pursued against the responsible party.
• Property Owners: If the injury occurs on someone else's property due to their negligence (for example, a slip and fall), the injured worker may file a third-party claim against the property owner.
• Product Manufacturers: If a defective product or piece of equipment is responsible for the injury, the injured worker may file a third-party claim against the manufacturer or distributor of the faulty product.
• Negligent Drivers: If a worker is injured in a motor vehicle accident while on the job and the accident was caused by another driver's negligence, the injured worker may pursue a third-party claim against that driver.
• Service Providers: In some cases, a third-party claim may arise from injuries caused by a service provider not employed by the injured worker's employer, such as maintenance or repair contractors.
• Other Negligent Parties: Any third party whose negligence or wrongful actions contributed to the injury may be subject to a third-party claim. This could include, for example, a maintenance company responsible for a hazardous condition or a company providing faulty safety equipment.

Making Changes to Your Benefits

In some cases, you may find that your condition has only worsened and you’re in worse shape than you were before. When that happens, you may need to make changes to your benefits to fit the changes you’ve experienced — a lawyer can help you do that.

Typically, you’ll have three years after the last payment of your benefits to take action or request further compensation for your injuries. This should give you time to determine whether your injury or illness has fully healed. If this time has passed, you may be denied further compensation, so be sure to act fast if you’re getting close to that deadline.

Once you’ve filed for further action, your case will be investigated again, as it was during your initial claim. If the insurer finds evidence that your benefits will need to be extended, it should offer further benefits and discuss how much workers’ compensation you’ll receive and for how long you’ll receive it.

When Do Iowa Workers’ Comp Benefits Stop?

Payment of benefits will stop under two conditions. One condition is if you are able to return to work and complete the same job responsibilities as you were able to before you were injured. The other is if you reach the number of weeks allotted based on Iowa’s guidelines on factors determining disability.

For example, if you were injured and lost a hand in your work accident, you would be entitled to 190 weeks of disability benefits. If you became permanently disabled, you would be entitled to 500 weeks of benefits.

Once this time limit has been reached, your situation will be reevaluated to determine whether you are still unable to work or if working in another industry is a possibility.

Reach Out to an Iowa Workers’ Comp Lawyer

If you would like more information about which workers’ compensation benefits you’re eligible for, or if you believe your worker’s comp insurer has failed to provide the benefits you’re entitled to, contact a knowledgeable Iowa workers’ comp lawyer at Pothitakis Law Firm.

Here's how our experienced attorneys can help:

• Reviewing Your Case: We will thoroughly review the details of your workers' compensation case, examining the reasons for the termination of your benefits. This involves a careful analysis of the facts, medical records, and any communication between you, your employer, and the insurance company.
• Identifying Legal Grounds: Our legal team will identify any potential legal grounds for challenging the termination of your benefits. This may involve assessing whether there has been a change in your medical condition, a dispute over the extent of your disability, or issues related to the termination process.
• Filing Appeals: If the termination was unjust or based on incorrect information, we will guide you through the process of filing an appeal with the Iowa Workers' Compensation Commissioner. This involves preparing and submitting the necessary documentation and presenting a compelling case on your behalf.
• Negotiating with Insurance Companies: We will engage with the insurance company on your behalf, negotiating and advocating for the reinstatement of your benefits. Our goal is to reach a fair resolution and ensure that you receive the compensation you are entitled to under Iowa's workers' compensation laws.
• Litigation if Necessary: If negotiations do not yield a satisfactory outcome, we are prepared to take your case to court. Our skilled litigators will represent you in hearings and trials, presenting a strong case to demonstrate why your benefits should be reinstated.
• Advising on Legal Rights: Throughout the process, we will provide clear and comprehensive legal advice, keeping you informed about your rights and options. Our team will answer your questions, address your concerns, and guide you step-by-step through the legal proceedings.
• Ensuring Timely Action: Time is crucial in workers' compensation cases, and we understand the importance of acting promptly. We will ensure that all necessary deadlines are met and that your case progresses efficiently.

Remember, at Pothitakis Law Firm, we are dedicated to protecting the rights of injured workers in Iowa. We are here to advocate for you and work towards securing the benefits you deserve.

Contact us online or call (319) 318-0450 for more information.