When you’re injured on the job, you may be granted lost wage workers’ compensation benefits. Ohio employees are entitled to a certain amount of compensation when their injuries cause them to miss work. Depending on the type of injury, the type and amount of compensation may vary.
If you are granted partial or permanent disability by the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC), you may be given the equivalent of average or full weekly wages. What does that mean for you? How is it calculated, and how much compensation will you receive?
Average weekly wage
The average weekly wage is what an injured employee may make during the average work week. Generally, the employee’s average earnings are totaled for the past year, then divided by 52 to come to an average amount.
However, there are always exceptions. Some people may not be employed for the entire year. Dividing their average earning by all 52 weeks would result in an abnormally low weekly wage. Instead, the wage will only be divided by the actual number of weeks worked.
If these circumstances may be applicable to you, you’ll need to provide supportive documentation. The attorneys at Dworken & Bernstein can help you determine what documentation will be sufficient to support your claim.
Full weekly wage
The full weekly wage usually applies to the workers’ first 12 weeks of temporary total compensation. Full weekly wage (FWW) typically means either the gross wages (plus applicable overtime) earned over the six weeks prior to the injury divided by six, or gross wages (excluding overtime) earned over the seven days prior to the injury.
Whichever calculation results in a higher amount is the one used to set the full weekly wage.
It’s important to ensure that your average or full weekly wage calculations are correct. Working with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney will help guarantee you get the full benefits to which you are entitled.
What am I eligible for?
In order to find out which benefits you are eligible for, call the attorneys at Dworken & Bernstein today. Our seasoned lawyers can help you navigate the workers’ compensation process, from filing a claim to receiving your benefits. Call us today to schedule a consultation—we’ll walk you through the process to ensure you get the benefits to which you are entitled.
