- Workers' compensation laws in Michigan help ensure fair treatment for injured workers.Legal Law Justice image by Stacey Alexander from Fotolia.com
Michigan has a Workers' Disability Compensation Act that provides income replacement, medical, and rehabilitation benefits, for any worker who becomes injured while on the job. The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth administer the program through the Workers' Compensation Agency. - The majority of workers are covered by workers' compensation whether they work for private or public employers. Exceptions are work for the federal government or some specific industries that have their own compensation procedures. Small private companies with fewer than three workers, or one or more employees who work less 35 hours than a week, do not fall under the state's workers' compensation law. Agricultural workers are not covered by the law, but may receive coverage if their employer voluntarily chooses to participate in the program. If you are self-employed your workers are protected by the law, but you are not.
- Wage-loss benefits will equal 80 percent of your after tax pay at the time the injury occurred. The wage-loss benefit amount is determined by averaging the highest 39 of the last 52 weeks of wages prior to the injury, and then using 80 percent of that average as your weekly payment. You will receive the benefit whether you were partially or totally disabled on the job. If you return to work but the injury prevents you from performing your past job, workers' comp will pay you 80 percent of the difference between your wage before the injury and your current pay. In some cases, the cost of health insurance, vacation pay, and other benefits will be included in determining your weekly benefit amount. No money is paid if an injury lasts one week or less. However, a disability lasting beyond one week requires payment of benefits on the eighth day. Injuries continuing for two weeks or longer are subject to payment from the first week the disability occurred. Benefits will be paid for as long as the employee is disabled, which can include for life. No state or federal taxes are levied on benefits, though taxes can be collected on interest earned from delayed lump sum payments to beneficiaries.
- All necessary and reasonable medical expenses pertaining to your injury will be paid for you under the workers' compensation program. Expenses include hospital services, dental care, nursing care, and any equipment needed; for example, crutches or wheelchairs. Medical care will be provided to you for as long as necessary. Your employer may choose the doctor during the first 10 days of treatment; however, you are free to change doctors after that. You may refuse medical treatment, but do so at the risk of losing any continued benefits.
Workers' Compensation Agency
7150 Harris Drive
P.O. Box 30016
Lansing, MI 48909
517-322-1438
michigan.gov
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