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Work Injury? Short-Term Income Options While You Mend

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Unfortunately, Job injuries do happen. If you find yourself in this position, don’t fret; there are several options available to help supplement your income while you take time off from work to heal and mend. Let’s review some of these short-term options for supplemental income.

Workers’ Compensation

Work Injury - Leg Cast

If you are injured due to your job or workplace, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ compensation is a federal program that provides money to employees who suffer on-the-job injuries or illnesses and death benefits to families in the event of a worker’s death related to their job. Workers’ compensation aims to provide financial aid and reimbursement for medical expenses so that an employee can focus on healing and recovery without worrying about basic needs such as shelter, food, and clothing.

Each state has its own laws regarding workers’ compensation eligibility criteria and benefit amounts. Contact your state’s Department of Labor or consult with an attorney specializing in workplace injury cases for more information about workers’ compensation benefits in your state.

Social Security Disability

Social Security administration

If your injury is expected to keep you out of work for a long period of time, you may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. These benefits are designed to provide financial support when someone can no longer work due to a disability or illness that is expected to last for at least 12 months or result in death. [Read more…] about Work Injury? Short-Term Income Options While You Mend

5 Career Opportunities for Disabled Individuals

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No matter what type of disability you may have, the good news is that there is a great career waiting for you in all types of industries. Unlike in years past when employers may have been hesitant to hire disabled workers, the job market of today is eager to hire workers of all backgrounds and skills. Should you be a disabled individual who is looking for a great career opportunity, here are five possibilities you may want to consider.

File Clerk

If you have a hearing impairment, being a file clerk would be a great career. The perfect job if you like routine work and keeping track of records, this job requires minimal contact with others on a daily basis, letting you work alone while you keep things organized.

Credit Counselor

Should you have a visual impairment, consider becoming a credit counselor. Working with a variety of clients, you will help people establish budgets, understand how to set and reach financial goals, and much more. A job where it is key for you to build interpersonal relationships with others, it has an annual average salary approaching $45,000.

Actuary

One of the best disability job opportunities for people who have mobility issues, becoming an actuary will provide you with a great and satisfying career. Working for an insurance company, you would use your math and statistical skills to help companies analyze risk, which helps determine insurance coverage for various situations. A job that is always in demand, the annual salary can often exceed $100,000. [Read more…] about 5 Career Opportunities for Disabled Individuals

Are You Eligible for Social Security Disability Benefits?

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If you are unable to work due to a disability, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability (SSD) Benefits. Like all government programs, there are very specific requirements you have to meet in order to be eligible for benefits. Plus, the application process for these benefits may be a bit daunting, but finding out if you qualify is worth the effort.

Eligibility for SSD Benefits

You must meet two basic criteria to be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits:

  • You must have a medical condition that meets the criteria of disability as defined by the Social Security Administration (SSA).
  • Your situation should have precluded you from working for about a year or be anticipated to bar you from working for over one year.

The medical condition must prevent you from engaging in “substantial gainful activity.” Work that pays over $1,070 monthly (or $1,800 if you are blind) is considered this. The SSA’s website has a list of disabling conditions, which includes:

  • Cancer
  • Muscular dystrophy
  • Amputation
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Arthritis, etc.

Depending on your age, you must also have worked and paid Social Security taxes for a certain number of years. For example, a 31-year-old must have worked for the previous ten years. People who become disabled before age 22 have a different work requirement; generally, they or a parent should have worked for a sufficient period to be eligible for benefits. [Read more…] about Are You Eligible for Social Security Disability Benefits?

Save Money by Getting Disability Insurance Through Your Work

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When you think of insurance through your employer, you typically think about health insurance. However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there is a growing trend for employers to offer other types of insurance as well. One of those is disability insurance. In this table (although dated) provided by the BLS, we can see that both long-term and short-term disability insurance coverage has increased over the years.

Disability Insurance

As the name implies, short-term disability plans are designed to replace lost wages for a short, fixed amount of time. Ninety-three percent of private industry workers are covered by a short-term plan. Generally, coverage is about 26 weeks.

If you are among the lucky ones whose employers offer the opportunity to have disability insurance here are some reasons why you should take them up on their offer. [Read more…] about Save Money by Getting Disability Insurance Through Your Work

6 Reasons to Know Your Rights as an Employee

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Know your rights as an employee. Regardless of what industry you work in, there are things that you may love or hate about your job. However, day after day, if the bad outweighs the good you may wish you could just quit.

Many people are dissatisfied with their work environment and are looking for ways to become entrepreneurs and avoid workplace drama. However, sometimes that drama is actually illegal and so here are six employee rights to be aware of.

Accidents

Regardless of your industry, workplaces can be more hazardous than homes. Of course, when you think of accidents at work, many think of construction, roofing, or police officers. However, accidents happen in the plushest offices where safety should be as important as a construction site.

Employees may suffer from an injury from falling over unsecured computer cords or need wrist surgery because the firm refused to purchase ergonomic equipment. But they don’t realize that these types of things can qualify for a worker’s compensation claim, so they don’t file. Labor & Industry attornies specialize in this type of case. So, hiring an L&I attorney could save them years of needless pain and agony (both physical and financial).

Privacy

Regardless of the industry or location, employees have the right to store their personal belongings in a safe place, free from theft or intrusion. That includes handbags, briefcases, and electronic devices. When an employee doesn’t work at a desk, jobs should provide a storage locker or other safe place for employees’ personal belongings.

Illnesses

Calling out sick shouldn’t [Read more…] about 6 Reasons to Know Your Rights as an Employee

Dealing With Temporary Disability After a Workplace Injury

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Since 1970, workplace deaths have been reduced by more than 60%, and occupational injuries have declined by 40%.

Although workplaces are safer than ever before, many jobs still carry a significant risk of injury and even death. After experiencing an injury on the job, many workers become temporarily disabled and unfit to work.

This type of sidelining from the job can cause a number of hardships. Many people find making ends meet difficult, especially if they have families, and mental health is frequently also negatively impacted. Here is a quick guide on strategies that can help you recover faster and get your life back on track.

Mental Health

Understanding why many injured workers slip into depression is easy. Unable to work, with nothing to occupy their time, workers often fall into the trap of repetitive thinking, obsessive thoughts, deflated morale, and lower self-confidence. Staying connected with friends and family is crucial for maintaining your mental health throughout the recovery process. In addition, many professional therapists specialize in treating injured workers who are experiencing a difficult recovery.

Stay on Top of Physical Therapy

For the fastest, most complete recovery possible, consult with a physical therapist who is trained to help patients with your particular injury. A good physical therapy regimen is medically proven to improve results by restoring your function closer to what it was prior to the accident than without the therapy. [Read more…] about Dealing With Temporary Disability After a Workplace Injury

Running out of Sick Days? How to Balance Chronic Illness and Work

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Most companies today allot a certain number of PTO (Paid Time Off) days or hours for their employees. However, many employees may suffer from a chronic illness that requires them to miss more work days than normally allowed. If you’re running out of paid sick days for the year, following these tips can help you balance chronic illness and work and may keep you out of financial hardship.

Get a Proper Diagnosis

You may assume that you’ll be fine with time, but you could be suffering more than you have to if you don’t get the correct diagnosis from a doctor. Your doctor may even be able to write a note to your employer explaining your situation if you have a proper diagnosis, and this may help you get extended sick pay. The information that you receive about your diagnosis from your doctor can also be used to let your employer know exactly how much more time you expect to miss from, and this can be effective in bridging better communications with your boss. Not only that, but getting an official diagnosis can make it a great deal easier to get the care you need to fully recover.

Track Your Triggers

Certain triggers may be behind your symptoms, and eliminating these triggers can allow you to recover faster. Allergies caused by certain foods and environmental factors often lead to chronic illnesses, and an allergist can test you to determine if you’re suffering from allergies. Food allergies and intolerances that aren’t life threatening are often overlooked as being symptoms of something completely unrelated. Because of this, it’s important to be aware of any history of auto-immune disorders or food intolerances in your family history. On the other hand, environmental factors such as workload and even flickering lights can trigger debilitating effects. If your chronic illness is related to stress, methods like yoga, meditation or counseling can help you maintain your mental and physical health. No matter what the cause, however, tracking the factors surrounding episodes of illness are important to help your doctor make a proper diagnosis. [Read more…] about Running out of Sick Days? How to Balance Chronic Illness and Work

Hardhats Required: 4 Things to Do after an Accident at Work

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Those who have gotten hurt at work may find that their lives are permanently altered. For instance, they may experience chronic pain, experience changes in mood or find themselves unable to walk or talk. Let’s take a look at what injured workers should do in the aftermath of a workplace accident.

Notify Your Employer of the Injury

The first thing an injured worker should do is notify their employer about the injury. In the event of a severe injury, it may be possible to have someone else get in touch with a manager while the injured party seeks treatment. A representative from the company should file an accident report and take note of if, when and where an individual was initially treated.

See a Doctor

Even if an injury is minor, it is important to see a doctor after a workplace accident. This is because symptoms may not present themselves right away. For instance, a concussion or whiplash may not be apparent immediately after a fall or motor vehicle collision. Cuts or lacerations could become infected if they are not treated properly. Additionally, a doctor’s evaluation may be beneficial when applying for workers’ compensation benefits.How Workers Comp works

Hire a Workers’ Compensation Attorney

Typically, anyone hurt in a workplace accident is entitled to have [Read more…] about Hardhats Required: 4 Things to Do after an Accident at Work

Long-Term Disability Benefits: How to Manage Finances after an Injury

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When you’ve been injured, life can change dramatically, temporarily or permanently. A decreased income can often lead to a lot of financial stress, making recovery more difficult. There are a few things you can do to ease the stress.

Create a Budget

There are two steps to this. First, create a budget that outlines all of your current expenses. Then, create a budget that works for your new, reduced income. Look at the first budget to see which, if any, of your current expenses can be immediately cut.

Refinance or Ask for a Forbearance on Your Mortgage

If you own your own home, [Read more…] about Long-Term Disability Benefits: How to Manage Finances after an Injury