If you are injured on the job in Pennsylvania, you don’t want to sit around and wait to learn more about workers’ compensation. Instead, it is important to understand what is available to you, how to file for benefits, and what is expected of you during the recovery process.

One of the most important things you can do is learn more about the many types of workers’ compensation benefits provided by the state program. These include:

— Payments for lost wages. This is available if you are partially disabled and earning less than your pre-injury earnings or fully disabled and not in position to work.

— Death benefits. If the injury leads to death, surviving dependents of the person may be able to receive this type of workers’ compensation benefit.

— Specific loss benefits. This comes into play if you lose permanent use of a sense or body part.

— Medical care. If you are injured or become ill on the job, you may be entitled under the law to receive benefits for related medical and surgical procedures.

No two workers’ compensation claims are the same. This is why any injured party needs to learn more about the benefits system, as well as their rights.

Final note: Don’t delay in reporting your injury or illness to your company, as this can make it more difficult to receive some or all of the benefits detailed above.

The Pennsylvania workers’ compensation system is in place to provide a variety of benefits. Knowing which ones you qualify for is extremely important to your future.

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, “Workers’ Compensation & the Injured Worker,” accessed Oct. 27, 2015