JENKINTOWN PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS

According to a recent report from the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI), an increase of benefits paid to injured workers in 2011 illustrates a sign of economic recovery. The report released on August 22^nd shows that workers’ compensation claims and benefit payouts often correlate with growth in the employment rates and earnings.

The report reviews the most current data (from 2011) to determine the number of employees who are covered under workers’ compensation policies as well as the amount paid out to injured employees in benefits.

The data illustrates that total workers’ compensation benefits rose by 3.5 percent to $60.2 billion. Of the total benefits paid in 2011, $29.9 billion was spent on medical care and $30.3 billion was spent on wage replacement benefits.

On the front end of workers’ compensation benefits is the cost of insurance coverage and employer compliance. The study shows that every state in the country as well as D.C. noted state-level changes to workers’ wages, workers’ compensation coverage and injury protection compliance. These changes include:

• Insurance coverage and employee wages increased in all 50 states and the District of Columbia
• Total benefits paid increased in 29 jurisdictions. Benefits as a percent of total wages only increased in 17 states.
• Employers’ costs for workers’ compensation as a percent of total wages increased in 31 states.

Designed as the first social insurance program in the United States, the workers’ compensation program marked its 100^th year of official state adoption in 2011. Intended to protect workers’ who are injured on the job, workers’ compensation program provides benefits for medical bills and lost wages. The system can be difficult to navigate and employer denials are sadly more common that one would expect. If you have experienced a workplace injury in Pennsylvania, contact the workers’ compensation attorneys at Mednick, Mezyk & Kredo at 888-807-WORK (9675) for a free consultation.