How is Workers' Compensation paid?
Before benefits can be received, the State
Accident Fund must determine that an injury is
job related and accept liability. There are four
types of compensation that may be applicable
after the Accident Fund accepts liability. There are also special guidelines for working with light or restricted duties and for
first payment of benefits.
Lost Wages | Approved Medical Expenses | Death Benefits
Permanent Impairment or Disfigurement
Lost Wages
While recovering from your injury, you are
entitled to weekly compensation at the rate of
66 and 2/3rds percent of your average weekly
wage, but not more than the average weekly
wage in South Carolina for the preceding fiscal year.
How long payments continue depends on the
injury and how long you are unable to work as a
result of it.
Payment is based on a seven-day workweek,
regardless of the number of days a week you
work. This means your daily payment is one-seventh of your weekly payment.
There is a waiting period before benefits can
be paid. The waiting period is the first seven
days after the accident. You do not receive
compensation for these seven days if you are
disabled for 14 days or less. If you are disabled
for more than 14 days, you will receive
compensation beginning with the first day
missed.
You are required by law to make a written
choice using the Benefits Election section
at the bottom of the Employee Injury Report to
designate whether you wish to use your leave
time (sick and annual leave) or receive
Workers' Compensation for time lost from work
due to a work related injury. Once you elect to
use leave or Workers' Compensation and begin
receiving payment, you cannot change your
decision.
Make sure you fully understand your options
under this requirement before making a
decision.
Approved Medical Expenses
Approved medical expenses are covered at
100 percent. This includes hospital and doctors
charges, medicines, therapy, prosthetic devices,
and travel expenses for obtaining medical
attention more than five miles from home.
Medical bills should be forwarded to the USC Benefits Office, 1600 Hampton Street, Columbia, S.C. 29208.
Telephone: 803-777-6650.
Permanent Impairment or Disfigurement
After you have healed as much as possible
from your injury, your doctor will estimate
whether you have any permanent impairment or
disfigurement. If you have a permanent
impairment, you may be entitled to additional
compensation. Different amounts of
compensation are due for the loss of, or loss of
use of various parts of the body.
Death Benefits
If you should die due to a work related injury,
your family may be entitled to Workers'
Compensation benefits.
Working with Light or Restricted Duties
If the doctor says you may return to work,
but only with light or restricted duties, your
department will determine whether suitable
light duty is available.
If you refuse to accept suitable light duty,
you may be placed on unauthorized leave
without pay, and may forfeit your right to
Workers' Compensation benefits. If light duty
is unavailable, you will be required to remain
off the job until your doctor releases you for
full duty.
First Payment
If disability lasts longer than seven days,
payments will come directly from the State
Accident Fund, provided it has accepted your
claim. To receive compensation, you are
required to sign an Agreement as to
Compensation. If no such agreement is made
within 14 days after your injury, you should
notify the Workers' Compensation Commission
in writing.
After you sign the Agreement as to
Compensation, payments will be made directly
to you. Payments should continue until the
doctor approves your return to work. Within 15
days after you return to work, the State Accident Fund will send
you a Receipt for Compensation, Form 17 to sign.
Informal Conferences and Hearings
An informal conference or hearing may be
scheduled before the S.C. Workers'
Compensation Commission to settle disputed
issues and determine what compensation is due
an injured employee.
An informal conference is an opportunity
for you and representatives from the University
and the State Accident Fund to meet informally
with a Workers' Compensation Commissioner
or claims mediator to discuss settlement of your
claim. If a settlement cannot be reached at the
informal conference, a hearing will be
scheduled.
A hearing is a formal proceeding before a
commissioner or a panel of commissioners,
during which you and other appropriate
witnesses will testify under oath about your
claim. The commissioners' ruling determines
whether you are due compensation, and how
much compensation you are due.
You or your representative may request a
hearing. Forms to request a hearing are
available from the S.C. Workers' Compensation
Commission, P.O. Box 1715, Columbia, S.C.
29202-1715. Telephone: 803-737-5700.
Legal Assistance
You may request a hearing without being
represented by an attorney. However, under
South Carolina law, you do have the right to
hire an attorney at your own expense.
USC Policies and Procedures
All periods of disability leave are subject to
University policies and procedures, whether or
not work related.
Workers' Compensation
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