The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry’s Workers’ Compensation Division pays benefits to workers in the North Star State who suffer injuries in job-related accidents that leave them unable to earn a paycheck, and it also provides financial assistance to workers who become disabled while on the job. Benefits are paid when workers become temporarily partially disabled, permanently partially disabled, temporarily totally disabled, or permanently totally disabled.
Partial and total disability
Workers who are partially disabled are able to perform less demanding tasks while they recover from their injuries. Total disabilities leave workers incapable of performing any kind of work. Minnesota uses a ratings system to determine how long workers will receive disability benefits. A rating assigned based on the severity of the disability is multiplied by either a dollar figure or a number of weeks. Workers who receive permanent partial disability payments may also receive temporary partial disability or permanent total disability benefits.
Benefit amounts
Temporarily totally disabled workers in Minnesota receive benefits equal to two-thirds of their weekly wage at the time of their injury. The maximum benefit is 102% of the average weekly statewide wage, and the minimum benefit is the lesser of $130 or their full weekly wage. Partially disabled workers receive two-thirds of the difference between their weekly wage at the time of their injury and the amount they earn while recovering. The benefits for total disabilities are calculated using a formula based on the severity of the disability, the statewide weekly wage and the worker’s earnings at the time of their injury.
Applying for benefits
The workers’ comp rules and the formulas used to calculate benefits are complex, and workers unfamiliar with the process sometimes receive less than they could. An attorney with experience in this area could help injured or disabled workers to submit the required paperwork, and they could also file appeals and advocate on their behalf if their claims are rejected.
