You hurt yourself at work recently, but you do not know whether to pursue workers’ compensation or disability. You cannot waste time on treating your injury or tending to medical bills, making it essential to take action as soon as possible.
Chron breaks down similarities and differences between workers’ comp and disability. Understand which avenue to pursue, so you can focus on recovering and getting back to work.
Compare
When workers sustain an injury or fall ill, both disability and workers’ comp may cover them financially. Both compensation forms vary according to state and occupation. Monetary payments from both options cover a percentage of the injured employee’s wages until the person goes back to work. If a worker intentionally injures or inflicts injury on him or herself, that person qualifies for neither compensation nor disability.
Contrast
Disability insurance covers a percentage of lost wages stemming from injuries and illnesses that prevent a person from earning a living. To file a disability claim, an employee must pay insurance premiums through an employer-sponsored benefit program.
Only injuries and illnesses sustained while carrying out one’s regular job responsibilities qualify for workers’ comp. Employers bear the financial burden of paying for workers’ comp, not employees. Besides lost wages, workers’ comp also takes care of medical bills resulting from workplace illness or injury. Harm sustained at work classifies as a temporary work injury, not a disability.
Restrictions
Neither workers’ comp nor disability compensates injured workers with their full salary while they recover, only a portion of their wages. Disability may not even cover half of an employee’s regular salary, and disability coverage for long-term illnesses and harm costs workers more.