What are the differences between New Jersey and Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation?
What is Workers’ Compensation?
Pennsylvania and New Jersey:
- No fault system which provides benefits for injured workers. You don’t have to show that the injury was somebody’s fault, just that the injury happened at work.
What do you do if you are injured at work?
Pennsylvania and New Jersey:
- Report the injury to your supervisor, manager, or human resources department immediately.
- Describe when, where, and how the injury happened.
- Notice by word of mouth, email, or text is acceptable.
Medical treatment
Pennsylvania:
- You might have to treat with your employer’s doctor for 90 days after your date of accident.
- You can still treat with your own doctor during this time.
- After 90 days, you can treat with whom and where to treat.
New Jersey:
- You must treat with the physicians chosen by your employer’s insurance carrier.
- If you treat with your own doctor, you will be responsible for the cost of that treatment.
What is the time limitation to file a Workers’ Compensation claim?
Pennsylvania:
- The claim must be filed within three years of the date of injury.
- If the injury occurred overtime from repetitive use, it must be filed with three years of your last day of work.
New Jersey:
- The claim must be filed within two years of the date of injury, the date of your last medical
treatment, or the date of your last compensation payment, whichever date is later.
- If you have an occupation illness/disease, the claim must be filed within two years of the date
you were first aware of the condition and its relation to employment.
What am I entitled to?
Pennsylvania:
- Wage Loss Replacement Benefits
- Medical Treatment
- Disfigurement
- Specific Loss Benefits
New Jersey:
- Temporary Disability Benefits.
- Medical Treatment.
- Permanent Disability Benefits.
How do I start receiving my benefits?
Pennsylvania:
- You must be out of work for 14 days (not consecutive) to start receiving temporary disability
benefits.
- Your employer’s insurance carrier could pick up your claim, and you could begin receiving
payments.
- If your employer’s insurance company denies your claim, we will help you file a petition and
prove that you are unable to work and entitled to benefits.
New Jersey:
- You must be out of work for 8 days (not consecutive) to start receiving temporary disability
benefits.
- Your employer’s insurance carrier could pick up your claim, and you could start receiving
benefits.
- If the insurance company denied your claim, we will help you file a claim petition and prove
that you are unable to work and entitled to benefits.
How much will I get paid while out of work?
Pennsylvania:
- Between 2/3 and 90% of your weekly wages.
- You will earn less if you are able to work light duty or part time.
- All benefits are non-taxable.
New Jersey:
- 70% of your gross weekly wages, up to the state maximum of $903.00.
- Benefits will stop if you are able to work in any capacity (light duty, part time or full duty.)
- Benefits will stop if additional medication treatment, from your workers’ compensation doctor,
can no longer improve our condition.
How long does it take?
Pennsylvania and New Jersey:
- We won’t know until we learn more about you.
- CALL US TO FIND OUT MORE!
- WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU.
Call Pearson Koutcher Law to Discuss Your Workers’ Compensation Claim
Let us put our decades of experience to work for you, helping you navigate the complexities of the Workers’ Compensation laws.
Pearson Koutcher Law
1650 Arch St #2501
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 627-0700
Bethlehem Office serving the Lehigh Valley
414 West Broad St
Suite 100
Bethlehem, PA 18018
(484) 294-4090
Cherry Hill Office serving New Jersey
1811 Haddonfield Berlin Road
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
(856) 675-7070