In Florida, injured workers may be entitled to checks for lost time due to their injuries. These monies are typically paid by the insurance carrier and not the employer. Once entitled to lost wages, or indemnity checks, an employer’s workers’ compensation insurance company should be sending regular biweekly checks following an initial waiting period.
Florida law defines the amount of money that your employer’s workers’ compensation carrier must pay. If you are unable to work, or are assigned restrictions that prevent your employer from finding you actual work, you may be entitled to checks to replace a percentage of the wages you were earning prior to sustaining your injury. These checks cover some, but not all, of the money you regularly earn. These amounts are calculated based on two-thirds of your average weekly wage if placed on a “no work” status by your workers’ compensation doctor and 64% of your average weekly wage if returned to work with restrictions that cannot be accommodated. If you can go back to work within your restrictions, but are not making 80% of your average weekly wage, you will be entitled to a percentage of the difference. These checks should come every two weeks depending on when they are initially issued.
Having said all of this, be warned, you are dealing with insurance companies. While most of the time you can expect to be paid timely, it does not always happen. We have seen countless examples of checks that fall off the adjuster’s calendar, are paid late, are paid incorrectly or are simply not paid at all.
If you feel you are entitled to lost wages checks from your employer’s workers’ compensation carrier and are not receiving them, or you feel that something is wrong with the checks you do receive, call one of the experienced workers’ compensation attorneys at the Law Offices of Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt today. We have more than 50 years combined experience helping secure lost wages for injured workers throughout the state of Florida.
Call (561) 616-3800 or contact us online to speak with one of the dedicated workers’ compensation attorneys at the Law Offices of Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt today.
