Illinois Workers’ Compensation Claims Benefits: FAQs for Injured Workers

Following a work accident or an occupational illness, Illinois workers can file for workers compensation benefits to obtain financial support as they recover.

Given that the application process can be complicated, below we have answered some of the most commonly asked questions about Illinois workers compensation claims to help injured workers.

Answers about IL Workers Compensation Claims

Q – What types of benefits are provided via Illinois workers’ compensation claims?

Have questions about IL workers’ comp claims? Check out the helpful answers in these FAQs. Or contact a St Louis workers compensation Lawyer today for more info & help.
Have questions about IL workers’ comp claims? Check out
the helpful answers in these FAQs. Or contact a St Louis
workers compensation Lawyer today for more info & help.

A – The Illinois Workers Compensation & Occupational Diseases Acts (Acts) provide a variety of benefits for injured workers, including benefits for:

  • Medical care that is reasonably required to cure or relieve the employee of the effects of the injury;
  • Temporary total disability (TTD) while an injured worker is recovering and unable to work;
  • Temporary partial disability (TPD) while an injured worker continues to recover and performs limited work for less compensation;
  • Vocational rehabilitation/maintenance for injured workers participating in an approved vocational rehabilitation program;
  • Permanent partial disability (PPD) for injured workers who suffer some permanent disability or disfigurement but can work; and/or
  • Permanent total disability (PTD) for workers rendered permanently unable to work.

Benefits are also available for surviving family members of workers who have sustained a fatal work accident or occupational illness.

Q – How soon do workers have to report injuries to employers?

A – In general, injured workers should notify an employer “as soon as practicable but no later than 45 days” after sustaining an injury. Notifying an employer after this time frame has passed can result in a delay of the payment of benefits.

In the event a worker develops either of the following health complications, the reporting deadlines can be different:

  • For injuries related to radiological exposure, an employer must be notified 90 days after the employee knows of or suspects exposure to radiation.
  • For occupational diseases, an employer should be notified as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the condition.

Q – Can injured workers choose their own doctors for the treatment of their work injuries or illnesses?

A – In general, yes, an injured worker can select the doctor from whom (s)he seeks medical treatment for his or her work-related injuries. Here, it should also be noted that:

  • If an employer has a Preferred Provider Program (PPP), the injured worker has to choose from among the physicians within the PPP.
  • The worker can generally change providers two times, with referrals to specialists, emergency care and first aid not counting as a provider change.

If an employer has a PPP and the injured worker sees a physician outside of that network, (s)he will typically be responsible for covering those bills (i.e., that treatment won’t be covered by workers compensation insurance).

Q – How much are workers’ compensation benefits?

A – Benefits are typically awarded for amounts that are two-thirds (66 2/3%) of an injured worker’s average weekly wages, subject to minimum and maximum limits. The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC) posts updates to these minimum and maximum limits, which are updated annually, here.

Q – How do I get an Illinois workers’ compensation claim started?

A – Contact Brown & Brown today to get your claim started ASAP with experienced attorneys who advocate your rights and work diligently to help you secure the full amount of benefits to which you may be entitled.

To get answers to common FAQs about Missouri workers’ compensation claims and benefits, click here or contact Brown & Brown today.

Contact a St Louis Workers Compensation Lawyer at Brown & Brown Attorneys at Law

If you have suffered any work-related injury or illness, contact a St Louis workers compensation lawyer at Brown & Brown Attorneys at Law by calling us at 573-333-3333 for our Missouri office or at 618-888-8888 for our Illinois office. You can also email us using the form at the right-hand side of the screen.

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