When your work responsibilities are causing you severe stress and anxiety, it can affect your mental and physical health. If stress and anxiety impact your ability to do your job and live your life normally, you may need to take some time off to recuperate. Severe, debilitating anxiety and stress may be considered a repetitive stress injury.
Fortunately, you may be able to secure workers’ compensation benefits for anxiety or stress if this is the case. However, do not expect the insurance company to approve your claim easily. Insurance companies often deny cases of this nature.
You may need a workers’ compensation lawyer to get your claim approved so you can rest and get the medical care you need.
Georgia Workers’ Compensation Laws
Businesses in Georgia with at least three employees must protect their employees with workers’ compensation protection coverage. Workers’ comp protects workers when they suffer a work-related injury. If the company you work for has workers’ comp protection, you can file a claim with your employer’s insurance provider to recover benefits.
Your employer must cover you if you are a seasonal, part-time, or full-time employee. It does not matter how long you have been working with the company. From the first day of your hiring, your company’s insurance should cover you as an employee. However, you may still be unsure whether you can file a workers’ compensation claim based on your debilitating anxiety and stress levels.
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Workers’ Compensation FAQs
My Job Isn’t Providing Guidance on my Work-Related Injury. What Steps Should I Take?Is Pain and Suffering Included in Workers’ Compensation?Will My Employer Find Out if I Hire a Lawyer?How Long Does a Workers’ Compensation (WC) Case Typically Last?What Is the Maximum TTD in Georgia?Can You Go on Vacation While on Workers’ Compensation?Qualifying for Workers’ Comp for Anxiety or Stress
Generally, to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, you will need to be able to show that your medical condition is work-related. You will need to prove that your position and job responsibilities caused your injury.
In cases concerning extreme anxiety and stress, there are endless ways in which your position could be responsible for your condition. If you are under substantial pressure or work in a hostile work environment that causes high anxiety and stress levels, you may have the right to workers’ compensation benefits. However, you will need to prove that the scope of your responsibilities or work environment caused your condition.
By obtaining copies of your communications exchanges, making notes of your day-to-day experience at work, and asking witnesses to attest to the level of anxiety and stress that is put on you by your job, you may be able to get the insurance company to approve your claim for workers’ compensation benefits.
What Workers’ Comp Benefits Are You Entitled?
If you can get your claim for workers’ compensation approved, there are various benefits you may collect that could help you get through this challenging time in your life. Some of these benefits include:
- Medical benefits: Your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance provider will be required to cover your medical expenses related to your on-the-job anxiety and stress. Medial benefits might include the costs of your mental health counseling, prescription medication, cost of transportation to and from your physician, and other essential fees related to medical care.
- Vocational rehabilitation benefits: If your anxiety and stress are so debilitating that you can no longer continue working in the same industry, workers’ compensation may cover the costs of additional educational opportunities or job training. These benefits may provide the help you need to find work in a different industry.
- Disability benefits: Generally, workers’ compensation disability benefits are approximately two-thirds of an individual’s average weekly salary. However, disability benefits may be limited to a certain number of weeks based on the injury. In addition, disability benefits may end when you reach maximum medical improvement or when you return to work.
- Death benefits: Surviving family members of individuals who passed away due to severe anxiety or stress-related conditions may be eligible for death benefits including coverage of the decedent’s funeral and burial costs.
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What to Do If Your Benefit Claim is Denied
Claim denials for workers’ compensation are far more common than you think. The insurance company will look for every opportunity to reduce your claim or deny it altogether. Unfortunately, worker’s compensation claims for anxiety or stress may be at the front of the line for the types of cases insurance companies will deny.
The insurance company is not going to be willing to believe that anxiety and stress can prevent you from being able to work or earn a living. However, an attorney can provide the evidence needed to prove your need for workers’ compensation and the severity of your condition. As a result, an attorney may be able to get the insurance company to overturn your claim denial.
If the claim denial is not overturned, having an attorney on your side will be essential to bring your case before an administrative law judge for appeal.
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Our Georgia Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Can Help You Today
If you filed a workers’ compensation claim for stress or anxiety, and the insurance company denied your claim, you may need a legal advocate to help you get your denial overturned.
At Bader Scott Injury Lawyers, we can help you learn more about the appeals process for workers’ compensation. Call our office or fill out the quick contact form on our website for your no-cost, risk-free consultation.
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