The short answer to this question is that as long as your injury caused you to miss more than seven days of work, you should receive your first lost earnings benefit check within about 14 days after you formally notify your employer of your injury. Normally, your benefits will be paid on your regular payday, but they shouldn’t be paid any less often than twice a month in any case.

Medical expenses should be paid by the insurance company, directly to your healthcare provider, within 30 days of the provider’s request, and the money will not pass through your hands at all. A longer answer to this question, going into some detail, can be found below.

The Seven-Day Rule

If your disability allows you to return to your job by the eight day after the accident, you will not be entitled to any lost earnings compensation — it works something like a deductible. One difference, however, is that if you are out of work for at least two weeks, you will be entitled to compensation for both weeks, including the first seven days. The seven-day rule does not apply to compensation for medical bills even if you don’t miss more than seven days of work..

How to Expedite the Approval of Your Claim

The first thing you can do to expedite your claim is to seek medical attention as soon as possible, so as to provide evidence to document your claim. You are also required by Kentucky workers’ compensation law to notify your employer as soon as possible — and that would be a good idea even if it wasn’t the law, because failing to promptly notify your employer can only delay your claim and may even result in an eventual denial.

There will be some paperwork to file, and you need to get it right the first time in order to expedite the processing of your claim. Fill out all documents carefully, and provide any requested supporting documentation such as medical records. Follow up with the Kentucky Department of Workers’ Claims to make sure they don’t require any further information from you.

Light Duty

If your doctor clears you for light duty work and your employer is willing to accommodate this compromise without lowering your pay, you will not accumulate any further entitlement compensation regardless of whether you return to work to perform the light duty, unless you successfully dispute your doctor’s clearance. If your employer lowers your pay during light duty, you might accumulate entitlement to compensation for this reason.

If You Experience an Unreasonable Delay

If you experience an unreasonable delay in receiving your benefits, contact a Kentucky workers’ compensation lawyer, if you have not already done so by then. If you are awarded “back pay” compensation, Kentucky law requires the insurance company to add a six percent per year interest charge on any late payments — unless a judge determines that the late payment was “without reasonable foundation”, in which case you will be entitled to 12 percent interest.

Take the Bull by the Horns

If you are experiencing a delay in receiving your Kentucky workers’ compensation benefits, or if you need help filing and resolving a claim, contact Kentucky personal injury lawyer Glenn Martin Hammond today, by calling (606) 437-7777 or by filling out our online contact form. We serve clients in Lexington, Pikeville, Winchester, Paris and elsewhere in the state of Kentucky.