The workers’ compensation program in Illinois was put into place to ensure that employees who are injured in job-related accidents or become sick after being exposed to toxic substances in the workplace receive benefits. The program also protects employers from workplace accident-related lawsuits filed by injured workers. In Illinois, all employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance, and the program is administered by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission.
Workers’ compensation benefits in Illinois
Workers in Illinois who are injured in workplace accidents or develop work-related illnesses may be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits to:
- Cover their medical bills.
- Make up for the income they lose while they recover from their injuries or illnesses.
- Adjust their income if their injuries or illnesses allow them to perform lighter duties at a lower rate of pay.
- Attend vocational training if their injuries or illnesses prevent them from returning to their old jobs.
When workers are killed in on-the-job accidents or die from work-related illnesses, their families may be entitled to workers’ compensation death benefits.
How workers’ compensation benefits are calculated in Illinois
Workers’ compensation benefits in Illinois are based on the amount of money a worker earned before they were injured or became ill. Injured or sick workers receive temporary total disability benefits until they recover or become permanently disabled. TTD benefits are capped by state law, but most workers receive two-thirds of their pre-injury wages. Workers who become permanently disabled may receive:
- Wage differential benefits if they are able to perform other kinds of work.
- Loss-of-use benefits equal to 60% of their pre-injury wages if they lost a body part or suffered a physical impairment left them unable to work.
- Disfigurement benefits equal to 60% of the pre-injury wages for 162 weeks if they suffered disfiguring injuries.
Workers’ compensation claims
Workers who lose a major body part like an arm or leg in workplace accidents in Illinois receive benefits equal to 60% of their pre-injury wages for five or six years, which can add up to a lot of money. That is why workers’ compensation claims are often contested by employers or their insurers. When this happens, injured or sick workers can file an appeal with the IWCC.