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Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Workers’ compensation is a state-mandated insurance program that provides benefits to covered employees who are injured as a result of a workplace accident or who contract an occupational illness.

Typical benefits provided by the Rhode Island workers’ compensation system provide money to help the injured worker pay medical expenses and replace lost wages during their recovery.

The program also provides disability payments for workers who will not be able to resume employment and death benefits to the families of workers who have been killed in workplace accidents.

The Rhode Island Division of Workers’ Compensation says it paid benefits for 19,919 workplace injuries in 2010.

Types of Rhode Island Workers’ Compensation Benefits Available

The specific amount of the Rhode Island workers’ compensation benefits paid to injured and disabled workers are calculated with formulas set by the state.

For example, each year the Director of the Department of Labor and Training establishes medical and hospital fee schedules. These are rules and rates of reimbursement for medical services covered by workers’ compensation.

The following is a general outline of workers’ comp benefits in Rhode Island. This list may not be complete, as the program can be modified at any time.

Medical Benefits

Full medical benefits, once awarded, are provided with no time or monetary limitations.

In addition to payments for specific medical procedures and the services of medical professionals (surgeon, assistant surgeon, physician, physician assistant, registered nurse, nurse practitioner) medical benefits may be paid to cover costs of:

  • Anesthesia
  • Pathology and Laboratory
  • Casting and Strapping
  • Chiropractic Services
  • Pharmacy
  • Radiology

Rehabilitation Benefits

Rehabilitation services for which Rhode Island workers’ comp may pay benefits include medical, vocational, re-employment and/or treatment by spiritual means to restore an injured employee as near as possible to his or her pre-injury status.

Medical restorative services may include, but are not limited to:

  • Surgical
  • Hospital nursing services
  • Attendant care
  • Chiropractic care
  • Physical therapy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Psychological services and medicines
  • Orthotics
  • Prosthesis

Disability Benefits

An injured worker may also claim disability benefits based on a medical finding that he or she will not be able to return to their job. “Total disability” means the worker cannot earn a living.

“Partial disability” means the worker can earn a living but cannot return to the line of work pursued prior to the injury or earn an equal amount of pay because of his or her injury.

The amount of a disability benefit will be a percentage of the worker’s pay at the time of injury, plus an extra payment per dependent child and/or non-working spouse. Disability benefits are classified as:

  • Temporary Total Disability (TTD) – Payments are capped (have a maximum) but continue for the duration of the disability.
  • Permanent Total Disability (PTD) – Payments are capped (have a maximum) but continue for the duration of the disability.
  • Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) – Payments are subject to a minimum and maximum and may continue for up to 312 weeks.

Disfigurement Benefits

Rhode Island worker’s compensation covers “permanent bodily” disfigurement. Benefits are based on the worker’s salary prior to the injury and are paid for up to 500 weeks.

Death Benefits

If a worker dies from an injury suffered in a workplace accident, his or her survivors may receive a death benefit from workers’ compensation. The amount of the benefit will be based on the deceased worker’s weekly salary, plus an annual cost-of-living-allowance (COLA).

The surviving spouse would receive the benefit. If the worker had dependent children, a specified amount ($40 at the time of this writing) per child would be added to the weekly payment. If the worker’s widow remarries, the death benefit would then be divided equally among the worker’s dependent children.

If a surviving spouse receiving a workers’ compensation death benefit remarries and has no dependent children, the death benefit ceases.

Contact Our Rhode Island Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Today

Because they must address any likely circumstance of worker injury or illness, the rules and regulations of the Rhode Island Workers’ Compensation system are voluminous and complex. Those who are unfamiliar with them can easily be overwhelmed.

Gemma Law Associates, Inc., represents workplace accident victims and their families in workers’ compensation claims across Rhode Island. We help workers in Providence, Pawtucket, Warwick, Newport, Cranston, Bristol, and Woonsocket. If you are an out-of-state worker injured at a job site in Rhode Island, we can help you, too.

Call our Rhode Island workers’ compensation attorneys today toll-free or use our online form. We can provide you with a free and confidential evaluation of your case and help you determine your legal options.

Gemma law is the best and helped and guided me threw everything … highly recommended thank you so much
ellen almgren
ellen almgren
2023-02-09
5 stars all the way. They did exactly what was expected. Good Job
Keith Ruggiero
Keith Ruggiero
2023-02-04
Very efficient and very good with communicating with me. I received updates about my case without having to call and request them. Very good law office! Very satisfied.
Bethania Herrera
Bethania Herrera
2023-01-19
Mark Gemma has been absolutely amazing. He was helpful and answered all concerns and questions I’ve had. Him and his team are beyond incredible, supportive, and sweet. I would like to thank them all for everything they’ve done.
Samantha Argus
Samantha Argus
2023-01-19
very professional and honest, what I liked the most is whenever you call the lawyer returns your call with every concern I had. It was my first time and I would not hesitate to trust them again.
Diana Palacio
Diana Palacio
2023-01-17
This team is extremely helpful and kind. Mark Gemma was a great help in guiding me through this whole process and was a huge help. I would recommend this team to anyone seeking legal counsel
Zachary Dustin
Zachary Dustin
2023-01-16
I am so happy with the turnout of my case. Both Sarah and Peter kept me up to date on everything and worked very hard on my case. The whole staff is friendly and diligent with their work. 100% recommend!
Chelsie Abatiello
Chelsie Abatiello
2022-12-28
Managed to get my money before Christmas...in just days after settling! Great communication and always helped with my needs, and always gave good advice. Would definitely recommend.
Trini Luckey
Trini Luckey
2022-12-23
Always professional and always checking in on their clients. Excellent atmosphere.
Susan Hallam
Susan Hallam
2022-12-17
After spending 8 hours in a hospital overnight to get stitches in my lip because of a drunk driver’s negligent decision to get behind the wheel, the last thing I wanted to do was think about it all. I sent an email to Gemma Law, and Mark Gemma quickly called me back with an empathetic approach to listening to my story and helping me figure out the next steps. When he told me I wouldn’t have to have any contact with the insurance companies, I was HOOKED! When he pointed out how unfortunate it was I might have to miss out on a lip modeling career from a potential scar from the stitches, I was SOLD! And when I finally received my settlement check after letting him do all the leg work while I just focused on recovering, I was and am eternally GRATEFUL! Mark Gemma helped me turn a near death experience into a new start in life and I highly recommend him to anybody needing a personal injury lawyer.
Angie Sherman
Angie Sherman
2022-12-07
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