How Long Can You Receive Workers’ Compensation in South Carolina?

Some injured workers in South Carolina can receive workers’ comp benefits for up to 500 weeks. The specific amount of time you can receive benefits will depend on the severity of your injuries and the type of injuries you sustain. 

Additionally, in some cases, individuals may receive benefits past the 500-week cut-off if they sustain injuries that result in a total and permanent disability. An Aiken workers’ compensation lawyer can provide more information about the length of time you qualify to draw benefits after an on-the-job accident.

How Long Will You Receive Workers’ Compensation in South Carolina?

You may receive workers’ comp benefits until you recover enough to go back to work after a workplace injury in South Carolina. The workers’ comp typically provides these benefits for up to 500 weeks, depending on the specific circumstances of each injured worker. 

In some cases, you may receive benefits for substantially less than 500 weeks, especially if you have a relatively minor injury that does not require much time off work. 

On the other hand, some injured workers face a permanent disability after a workplace accident. These workers may receive benefits past the 500-week limit. An Aiken personal injury lawyer can review your situation and give you more exact information about the potential duration of your benefits. 

What Benefits Do You Receive Through SC Workers’ Comp? 

The workers’ comp system in South Carolina provides injured workers with money to cover their medical costs and wage replacement benefits. You may receive the wage replacement benefits for up to 500 weeks. 

The workers’ comp system will likely cover your medical expenses as they accrue instead of spreading out these payments over an extended period of time. You may receive the money you need to pay for medical treatment for burns, concussions, broken bones, repetitive motion injuries, or other injuries that occur at work. 

Does Workers’ Comp Cover All Your Lost Pay?

The South Carolina workers’ comp system will not cover 100% of your lost wages. Instead, the system generally provides you with around 66% of your past average pay through benefit payments. 

You can learn more about the benefits you can expect to receive and how long you can receive workers’ compensation in South Carolina with a professional legal team. 

How Long Do You Have to Wait to Get Workers’ Comp in South Carolina?

You will have to wait at least a week to receive any benefits through South Carolina’s workers’ comp system. You need to miss a minimum of seven consecutive days of work to even qualify for workers’ comp lost wages benefits. 

You may file a claim to retroactively get benefits for the first week you missed at work if you have to take off at least two weeks to heal from your injuries. 

How Long Do You Have to Request Workers’ Comp Benefits?

Technically, you have 90 days to report an injury and up to two years to file a claim for benefits. However, legal professionals strongly recommend that you begin the claims process as quickly as possible for the best results. 

Waiting to notify workers’ comp or your employer about an accidental injury can make it easier for them to deny your claim. Additionally, you can only start getting benefits after you notify workers’ comp about the injury. 

Can a Lawyer Help You Receive SC Workers’ Comp?

A workers’ comp attorney can help you get the benefits you deserve after an on-the-job accident. A lawyer can explain how to apply for benefits and help with any paperwork you need to file to get the funds you need to cover your medical expenses and lost wages. 

Working with a lawyer after a workplace injury means you’ll have someone who can:

• Answer any questions that you have
• Review your benefits request, preventing potential mistakes
• Track all the losses you face
• Protect your best interests 

In some cases, an attorney may even help you explore other options to get compensation after a workplace accident. Typically, you cannot sue your employer in South Carolina. However, you may qualify to file a personal injury lawsuit if a third party caused your accident and injuries. 

For example, a lawyer may pursue this legal action if a defective piece of safety equipment caused your injuries. In this case, a lawyer could build a case against the equipment manufacturer, helping you get additional funds to cover your losses. 

Talk to Us About Workers’ Comp Benefits in South Carolina

So, how long can you receive workers’ compensation in South Carolina? Some workers may receive benefits for up to 500 weeks. However, the specific amount of time you qualify for benefits will vary based on the extent of your injuries and other factors.

Our team at John Foy & Associates can review your situation and provide more exact information about the benefits you could receive and how long they may last. We have over 350 years of combined experience that we can use to help with your claim.

Reach out to us now to learn more.