After being injured on the job, you need compensation to pay for your medical care and to offset your lost wages. The workers’ compensation program may provide you with that relief, which can leave you feeling like a burden has been lifted off your shoulders.
But your workers’ compensation benefits could be jeopardized at a moment’s notice. That’s why you need to be aware of the circumstances that lead to the cessation of benefits. Hopefully then you can avoid them and keep the financial support that you need.
Reasons why your workers’ compensation benefits might be stopped
If your employer’s workers’ compensation insurer no longer believes that you qualify for benefits, then they might send you a “notice of suspension” and file a petition to terminate your benefits. The grounds for taking that action may include:
- You fail to comply with an independent medical examination.
- Your examiner believes that you’ve lied about the severity of your injuries.
- You don’t seek out reasonable medical treatment.
- You fail to adequately complete certain paperwork.
- You return to work and earn more than your benefits.
- It’s determined that your injuries weren’t suffered at work.
- Your injuries are related back to a pre-existing condition.
- An insurance investigator finds that you’ve engaged in activities indicative of falsification on your workers’ compensation claim.
These are just some of the justifications an insurance company might use. So, make sure you’re doing everything you can to avoid these situations.
Protect your interests in your workers’ compensation case
You can’t afford to unjustifiably lose your workers’ compensation benefits. That’s why if you’re faced with a petition to terminate your benefits, you should prepare strong legal arguments aimed at protecting the financial support that you need.