Pregnancy Shouldn’t Affect Your Workers’ Comp Benefits
First off, if you’re reading this because you’re pregnant: Congratulations! Impending parenthood is such a joy. Whether this is your first baby or your fourth, if you’re on workers’compensation when you become pregnant, you may be worried about how your pregnancy could affect your benefits.
additional benefits because of the pregnancy. If you’re collecting temporary total disability, it shouldn’t affect your benefits if your work injury
alone prohibits you from working. If you’re on permanent total disability, pregnancy will have no bearing on your benefits and your eligibility to continue collecting them.
We’ll look at a few scenarios but, generally, you should have nothing to worry about.
Obviously, pregnancy is a natural condition, not a disease or disability. However, it is possible your doctor will order you to alter your work tasks or even go on bedrest at some point to keep you and your baby healthy. You’ll have to follow the guidelines of your employer for those job-related adjustments. Remember that while your employer is prohibited from discriminating against you because of your pregnancy, your condition isn’t a work-related illness or injury. Therefore, you can’t apply for further workers’compensation benefits if you’re unable to do your job because of it.
If your pregnancy is making your original work injury worse or delaying your recovery and return to work, you may have a legitimate claim to extend your benefits. But you’ll probably need the help of a workers’compensation attorney to make this claim because employers are typically unsympathetic to this situation. Whatever you do, let your workers’comp doctor know about the pregnancy immediately so it’s included in your medical record. And if you’re on TT or PTD and are told by an employer than pregnancy could affect your benefits, call my office right away at 614-515-2595 to discuss your case. Your pregnancy should be a positive, life-changing experience for you, not a time of additional worry and stress. Contact my office for help with your claim! At the very least, we should be able to put your mind at ease.
People are always asking me whether someone collecting benefits will lose them if they become pregnant. The answer is no; you won’t lose benefits.
However, any medical care benefits you’re receiving for a work injury won’t be extended to include prenatal care or delivery, and you won’t be entitled to
SUDOKU
NIBBLES WITH NUG OPENING DAY HAMBURGERS
Jim and his granddog, Nug.
With no fancy sauces, no frills, and no cheese, these All-American burgers are perfect for the start of baseball season.
INGREDIENTS
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1 pound ground chuck, 80 percent lean
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4 small leaves iceberg lettuce 4 1/4-inch thick yellow onion slices
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4 soft, white hamburger buns, split 4 1/4-inch thick tomato slices
1 teaspoon vegetable oil Salt and pepper, to taste Condiments of your choice
12–16 pickle rounds
DIRECTIONS
1. Lightly grease a small nonstick skillet with oil. Heat over medium-high. 2. While heating, gently shape meat into four patties 3 1/2 inches in diameter. Be careful to handle the meat as little as possible to prevent tough burgers. Season liberally with salt and pepper. 3. Sear patties on each side, about 1 minute per side. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue cooking until desired doneness, about 1 more minute per side for medium-rare, 2 more per side for medium-well. 4. Let meat rest for a minimum of 3 minutes. 5. To assemble, place patty on bottom bun and top with tomato, pickles, lettuce, and onion (in that order). Spread condiments on top half of bun and place on top of onion. Serve.
Inspired by Saveur Magazine
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614-334-4649
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