In Indiana, workers’ compensation pay is issued for as long as the authorized workers’ compensation physicians say that you require medical treatment, unless your employer offers you suitable light duty work beforehand. Once light duty is offered, you will need to return to work light duty. If light duty work is not offered, you are paid until you reach what we call maximum medical improvement (this is the point in which the doctor says that you do not need any more medical treatment). If you are permanently and totally disabled (this means that you can no longer perform reasonable types of employment ever again), you can receive a weekly workers’ compensation check for life.
When your weekly workers’ compensation checks ends, you have the right to appeal the termination of your weekly checks by filing a State Form 38911 with the Indiana Workers’ Compensation Board appealing the termination of your weekly checks. Once you file that form with the State Board, you will be sent to an independent doctor who will determine whether or not you need more medical care. If you require more medical care, your weekly workers’ compensation checks should resume back to the last date paid. The insurance carrier for your employer can appeal the opinion of the independent doctor but typically, they will not do so. Please let us know if you have any other questions.
As a final note, your weekly workers’ compensation checks may stop with little or no notice to you. You need to keep an eye on when you think the doctor will release you from his/her care. At this point, your checks will typically stop unless you are permanently and totally disabled. If you have any questions or need clarification, please call us at (800)809-3776.