When a worker dies due to a work-related injury or illness, their surviving family members may be eligible for death benefits through the workers’ compensation system. In this article, we’ll explain how workers’ compensation death benefits work and who is eligible to receive them.
What are workers’ compensation death benefits?
When a worker dies due to a work-related injury or illness, their surviving family members may be eligible for workers’ compensation death benefits. These benefits can help cover funeral costs and lost income, providing some financial security for the grieving family.
According to the National Safety Council, there were 4,500 workers’ compensation claim deaths in 2018. This equates to roughly 12 deaths per day. The leading cause of death was transportation accidents, followed by falls, slips, and trips.
While these numbers are staggering, it’s important to remember that they only represent a small fraction of the workforce. In the United States alone, there are approximately 156 million people employed. This means the chances of being killed while working are still relatively low. The average cost of a workers’ compensation death benefit was nearly $200,000 in 2018.
There are five types of workers’ compensation death benefits: funeral expenses, death gratuities, survivors’ benefits, supplemental death benefits, and death benefits for dependents. Each type of benefit is designed to help the loved ones of a deceased worker in a different way.
- Funeral expenses can help cover the cost of a funeral or memorial service.
- Death gratuities are typically given to the surviving spouse or partner of the deceased worker.
- Survivors’ benefits can provide financial support to dependent children.
- Supplemental death benefits can help cover expenses related to the death, such as lost wages.
- And finally, death benefits for dependents can provide financial support to any dependent family members, such as parents or siblings.
While death benefits can provide some financial assistance to grieving families, it is important to remember that these benefits are generally much lower than what the deceased worker would have earned had they been alive today. As such, it is important to speak with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney to ensure that you receive all the benefits to which you are entitled.
Who is eligible for workers’ compensation death benefits?
The surviving spouse and any dependent children of a worker who dies due to a work-related injury or illness are typically eligible for workers’ compensation death benefits. In some cases, other family members such as parents or siblings may also be eligible.
How to file for workers’ compensation death benefits?
If you are the spouse, child, or dependent parent of a worker who died due to a work-related injury or illness, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation death benefits. These benefits can help to cover funeral expenses and lost income.
To file for death benefits, you must contact your state’s workers’ compensation office. You will need to provide the following information
– The deceased worker’s name and Social Security number
– The date of the death
– The name and address of the employer
– A copy of the death certificate
Once the workers’ compensation office has this information, they will determine whether the death was work-related and whether you are eligible for benefits.
How are death benefits paid?
There are a few different ways workers’ compensation death benefits can be paid. The most common method is to pay the benefits in a lump sum. However, some policies allow for the benefits to be paid out in installments, which can be helpful for families who are struggling to cope with the death of a loved one.
Another option is for the benefits to be paid to a trust. This can be a good option for families who want to ensure that the money is used for its intended purpose, such as to cover funeral expenses or financially support the family.
Conclusion
Workers’ compensation death benefits are vital to the workers’ compensation system. They provide financial support to the families of workers killed on the job. Death benefits can help to cover funeral expenses and lost income. You may be eligible for death benefits if you have lost a loved one in a workplace accident. If you have lost a loved one in a work-related accident, Pistiolas Law Firm can help you file a claim for death benefits. You can call us at (844) 414-1768 to book your free initial consultation.
