What are the death benefits included in workers’ compensation?

Losing a close one is difficult for everyone. Especially when it happens suddenly on account of an unforeseen accident, it is more painful to know that the person could have had a great life ahead. Such accidents are avoided by many but a few are not able to escape it. Workers working in factories and shop floors are the most vulnerable to such accidents. Whenever a worker dies at work, it is the duty and moral obligation of the company to provide his or her dependents with death benefits. Here is some more information on death benefits included in workers’ compensation.

Why does one receive death benefits?

When a person dies on work, their family who was dependent on them for financial support are left helpless and without any further support for survival. After losing the close one, they are also at risk of failing in their lives as a result of a lack of resources that they could have received while their kin was alive. Keeping this in mind many states have laws in place to ensure that the dependents of the deceased have enough resources to continue with their lives without any hurdles.

Who is eligible for the death benefits?

People who were partially or totally dependent on the deceased are entitled to death benefits. By law, some relatives are automatically considered to be totally dependents and these are:

• A child under the age of 18
• A child of any age who are physically or mentally challenged to be able to work or earn a living
• A spouse who earned less than $30,000 in the 12 months before the deceased’s death.
• Other individuals qualify for being total dependents or partial dependents but in general, they must be a part of the household, a relative by blood, marriage or adoption. And if a person relied on the worker in full or partial, they become a dependent entitled to benefits.

What amounts are included in death benefits?

• Burial Expenses: The Workers’ compensation insurance company has to provide expenses incurred by the family for the funeral. Burial expenses up to $10,000 is provided as a compensation.
• Death Benefits: For one total dependent, $250,000; for two total dependents, $290,000; for three or more, $320,000 is paid by the insurance company. This amount is released in installments but not less than $224 per week.
• A partial dependent receives benefits only when there is only one total dependent. In this case, the partial dependent gets four times the amount they received from the deceased as financial aid.

Thomas F. Martin is an experienced attorney working for workers injured on the job and has worked in the field for over 25 years. If you need any help or information on workers’ compensation, call us for a free case evaluation today.