Workers Compensation Newsletters

Workers' Compensation and Employee Status

Whether an individual is eligible to receive workers' compensation benefits turns on the individual's employment status. Only employees are entitled to such benefits; individual contractors are not.

Anthrax

Anthrax is an infectious disease caused by the inhalation of, ingestion of, or skin exposure to a spore-forming bacteria. Though it is most often spread through contact with animals or animal products, anthrax is most widely known for its use as an agent of biological warfare.

"Benefits" Under the Black Lung Benefits Act

Once eligibility under the Black Lung Benefits Act has been established, a totally disabled miner will receive benefit payments equal to a portion of the monthly pay rate for federal employees. Should the miner succumb to the pneumoconiosis disease, his surviving widow will be entitled to the same monthly benefit payment. If the miner has no surviving widow, his single surviving child will also receive the same monthly benefit amount. The benefit amount increases incrementally with each subsequent surviving child. Finally, if there is no surviving widow and no surviving children, the miner's dependent parents or siblings will receive a monthly benefit amount at the children's rate. The receipt of payments pursuant to workers' compensation or unemployment insurance may reduce these beneficiary amounts.

Social Security Disability Appeals Process

If an individual disagrees with the decision of the Social Security Administration, an appeal can be taken. In the appeals process, all parts of the decision will be re-examined, including those parts that are favorable to the appellant. A written request for an appeal is required and it must be done within a specified time period. The individual may have a representative aid them in the appeals process. The representative will act on behalf of the individual, but is prohibited from collecting a fee for this service without first gaining permission from the Social Security Administration.

Workplace Safety

Regulation of Workplace Safety