What Is Workers’ Compensation?

Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance plan that is required for every employer in Mississippi with more than five employees, except for charitable organizations and farmers.

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What Does No-Fault Mean?

No-fault means that, if you are injured at work, you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits even if nobody did anything wrong to cause your injury.

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What Is Covered by Workers’ Compensation?

Any injury is covered. It doesn’t matter if the injury is serious or not; all that matters is that the injury occurred on the job. Gradually developing injuries, like lung conditions caused by breathing in contaminated air on the worksite or carpal tunnel syndrome that occurs after years of repetitive hand work, are usually covered.

Work doesn’t need to be the sole cause of an injury or disability for workers’ compensation to apply. As long as it can be shown that the work contributed to it by aggravating a preexisting condition or accelerating a condition that would not have otherwise become disabling, coverage can be granted.

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When Does Workers’ Compensation Coverage Start?

In Mississippi, workers’ compensation coverage begins on the first day of employment. Coverage remains even if an injured employee is terminated or quits.

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What Should You Do If You Are Injured at Work?

First, you should immediately report the injury to your employer, even if you don’t think it’s serious. You should also make a written report (keep a copy!) and have witnesses sign it as confirmation of the injury.

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What Benefits Are Available Under Workers’ Compensation?

Medical treatment is available at no cost to you; there is no deductible or co-pay. The right to receive medical treatment paid by the employer and insurance carrier to treat a work injury is unlimited in amount and duration.

If a medical provider takes you off work for more than five days as a result of your injury, you are entitled to disability benefits. Disability is paid at two-thirds of your weekly wage up to a maximum weekly benefit during the year that the injury occurred.

These include:

• 2020 --$505.43 a week and $227,443.50 overall max;

• 2021 --$523.16 and $235,422.00 ; and,

• 2022 --$551.02 and $247,959.00.

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How Long Does a Workers’ Compensation Claim Last?

You have two years from the date of your injury to file a claim in Mississippi. Your benefits, including the money paid by your employer, will stop after two years unless you have filed a petition with the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission.