PA Work Comp Claims Filed by Employers
Your employer can file three different types of claims petitions:
- Petition to Terminate Compensation Benefits
- Petition to Modify Compensation Benefits
- Petition to Suspend Compensation Benefits
If you receive a letter titled "Petition to Terminate, Modify or Suspend Compensation Benefits" it's because of one of the three following reasons.
Petition to Terminate Compensation Benefits
When an employer files a Petition to Terminate Compensation Benefits, the employer is asking the Bureau of Workers Compensation to stop paying you. Employers may file this petition when a company doctor states that you are no longer injured and can return to work.
You have the right to attend a hearing to fight the petition. If you don't attend your hearing, your work comp payments might be stopped and you must go back to work. If you don't go back to work, you could lose your job.
If you receive a Petition to Terminate Compensation Benefits and are still too injured to return to work, we recommend talking to a lawyer before your payments are stopped.
Petition to Modify Compensation Benefits
When an employer files a Petition to Modify Compensation Benefits, the employer is asking the Bureau of Workers Compensation to reduce the amount of money you are being paid. Employers may file this petition because a company doctor says that you can now work a modified, or "light duty" job.
You have the right to fight the petition. If you don't attend your hearing, then your PA work comp payments could be reduced.
If you receive a Petition to Modify Compensation Benefits and are still too injured to work a modified job, we recommend talking to a lawyer before your payments are reduced.
Petition to Suspend Compensation Benefits
When an employer files a Petition to Suspend Benefits, the employer is asking the Bureau of Workers Compensation to stop paying you entirely. This petition may be filed if you have failed to comply with certain requirements of the Workers Compensation Act.
Here's an example: Your employer has a different job available for you that pays the same amount of money as your pre-injury job. You reject the job offer because you don't feel able to perform the job or have another reason for refusing the job due to your injury.
You have the right to fight the petition. If you don't attend your hearing, then your Pennsylvania work comp payments could be suspended.
If you receive a Petition to Suspend Compensation Benefits, we recommend talking to a lawyer before your payments are suspended.
Hurt on the job? Put our experience to work for you
If you don't have an attorney to help you with your injury claim, the deck is stacked against you. It is important to know your legal rights if you are injured at work. The law firm of Edgar Snyder & Associates has been helping injured Pennsylvania workers for nearly 20 years. Let us put this experience to work for you.
Free Legal Evaluation
If you suffered an injury at work, and don't already have an attorney, you can contact our law firm for a free evaluation of your claim by:
- Filling out a simple online form so we can evaluate your claim.
- Calling toll-free 1-866-802-2643. Our phones answer 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
It won't cost you a dime to have our staff review your claim. We'll listen to what you have to say and let you know your options based on what you have shared. It's free and there's no further obligation. And, as always, there is never a fee unless we get money for you.
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