Total Disability Lawyers In Ocean County
Some on-the-job injuries are more serious than others. If you suffer a catastrophic injury or are severely impaired in a way that you are no longer employable, you may be eligible for permanent total disability benefits.
Permanently Disabled Due To A Job-Related Injury? We Can Help.
In New Jersey, this benefit is paid weekly for up to 450 weeks. After that time, you have to submit to a doctor’s exam to prove whether or not you are able to return to some sort of gainful employment. If you are not, these benefits may continue for the rest of your life, paying up to 70% of your weekly wage at the time you were injured.
You may also qualify for permanent partial disability awards if your injury allows you to return to work but is still in some way permanently disabling.
Our attorneys at Fedele & Honschke Attorneys at Law, LLC, know how to help you collect total disability awards. Call us at 732-504-3841 or toll-free at 888-898-1206. We handle cases for people in Ocean County, Monmouth County and across New Jersey.
New Jersey Lawyers Securing Second Injury Fund Awards For The Permanently Disabled
Established in 1923, the Second Injury Fund (SIF) is specifically for workers who have had injuries and disabilities in the past and become permanently disabled or unable to work because of a further injury. Each workers’ compensation insurance policy includes a small fee that goes to this fund.
Managed by the New Jersey Office of Attorney General, the awards from this fund examine the person’s entire history instead of the most recent injury. Any preexisting condition can be used as long as the final injury is work related. This award pays up to 70% of your weekly wage for the rest of your life.
Our New Jersey attorneys understand the workers’ compensation system and know how to gather the medical records, doctors’ reports and other evidence to help secure your disability award. We work regularly with specialists in the medical field who are happy to provide assessments on the level of your disability.
Do You Qualify For Second Injury Fund Benefits?
To be eligible for benefits, you must meet the following conditions:
- You must have a preexisting permanent partial disability: This could be the loss or loss of use of a hand, arm, foot, leg or eye. It does not have to be work related.
- You must sustain a succeeding work injury: This work injury must qualify for workers’ compensation benefits under New Jersey law.
- The combination of these conditions must result in permanent total disability: Your total disability must be a result of your preexisting disability and your new work injury. If your new work injury alone makes you totally disabled, you must seek benefits through regular workers’ compensation instead.
The attorneys at Fedele & Honschke Attorneys at Law, LLC, understand how to document and present evidence of both injuries to support your claim.
What You Need To Know About Second Injury Fund Benefits
If you qualify, you can receive disability benefits from the Second Injury Fund after your employer stops paying workers’ compensation. These benefits help support you when you become totally disabled from combining old and new injuries.
- When will your benefits start? The fund starts paying you after your employer’s workers’ compensation permanent disability payments end. But remember – you won’t receive benefits for any period before you file your application.
- How much will you get paid? The fund provides biweekly permanent total disability payments. The law sets a minimum weekly rate of $5, but your actual benefit rate depends on your case.
- How long do benefits last? You can receive permanent total disability benefits for life as long as you remain totally disabled. Unlike regular workers’ compensation that ends after 450 weeks, these benefits can continue indefinitely.
- What must you do to maintain your benefits? You must provide proof of continued total permanent disability to maintain your benefits. This may require evaluations by the New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services.
At Fedele & Honschke Attorneys at Law, LLC, we can assess your situation and help determine if you qualify for Second Injury Fund benefits.
Contact Our Ocean County Disability Law Firm
Call Fedele & Honschke toll-free at 888-898-1206 or email us to schedule your free initial consultation today. We have offices in Toms River, Forked River and Brick Township and Manahawkin. You don’t pay a fee unless your case is settled successfully.