Your employees can receive workers’ comp benefits immediately following an accident. The exact benefits they receive will depend on:
- The size of your business: Make sure to report the payroll for all your employees across all offices/locations so that your insurer can properly cover all your workers, whether you have two employees or two hundred, or more.
- The risks your employees face: Working in a higher-hazard industry means a higher risk of accident and injury, which can be appropriately covered by your policy. For example, construction workers, roofers and steel workers have higher-risk jobs than retail workers, sales associates and teachers.
- The state your business is in: Each state has different regulations, and some state laws require companies to carry a certain amount of coverage.
These factors affect small businesses differently. Our team of insurance specialists can help you figure out how much coverage you need to protect your employees and can answer any workers’ comp questions you may have.
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system. This means injured or ill employees can receive compensation, but they give up their right to sue their employer. Workers’ comp can help protect your business by:
- Providing disability benefits to employees who have work-related injuries or illnesses
- Limiting your business’ liability in lawsuits for work-related injuries or illnesses
- Making sure you’re following your state’s workers’ comp laws
- Helping injured employees get back to work in their old role or a new one
The laws in your state will determine the details of your workers’ comp coverage, including:
- The amount of benefits
- Types of injuries that are covered
- How benefits and care are provided
Some workers’ comp policies don’t provide coverage for multiple states or for workers who travel to different states. Workers’ compensation coverage is essential for each state where your employees work.
Requirements To Receive Workers’ Compensation Benefits
To receive workers’ compensation benefits, there are certain steps employers and employees need to take to file a claim. Keep in mind that the federal government doesn’t oversee workers’ compensation requirements - individual states do. This means the steps you need to take can vary depending on your area.
Generally, the sooner you file your claim, the faster your benefits will begin. That’s why it’s important to know
how to file a workers’ comp claim and do it right away. Knowing how to file these claims can help you save time and money. Some information you’ll need to file a claim includes your:
- Business name
- Policy number
- Account number
Employee information:
- Social Security number
- Date of birth
- Address
- Contact information
- Emergency contact information
- Marital status
- Age
- Gender
- Hire date
- Years in their current position
- Wage information
Incident details:
- Date
- Address
- Type of injury
- The work or job being performed when injury occurred
- Medical care received (if any)
- Body part injured
- Witnesses, including any photographs or video footage
If one of your employees is in a workplace accident or gets sick from their job, you can
file a claim with The Hartford
online or call us
800-327-3636.
As a business owner, it’s important to understand the requirements of
workers’ comp for employers. Requirements vary from state to state. Some states have laws about workers’ comp for contractors, temps and interns.
Several factors, like specific roles and the size of your business, determine which employees need workers’ compensation coverage.
Some states don’t require workers’ compensation insurance coverages for:
- Farmhands
- Self-employed
- Independent contractors with their own coverage
- Family members under a certain age
- Casual workers
- Business owners, executive officers and partners
