Workers' Compensation Discussion Forums

Hello everyone
I am in shock right now! I was expecting my 2 week Temp WC check which is $1,148.00. $574.00 per week that I have collected under a year. Today I received a letter terminating my temp as my Doctor released me and placed me from Temp partial disabled to permanent stationary disabled. They say there is nothing more they can do.
Briefly I fell at work and broke 4 vertabrays which have since healed and soft tissue damage in my knee which I fell on after smacking my back on the arm of a desk chair. (yea it really happened, ouch)
The Docs have said I will always be in pain as arthritis has set in and I'm not a spring chicken (56) The nerve!!
Anyway what I'm in shock about is I went from a temp check of $574.00 per week to permanent which is $230.00 per week!!!!
HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!
Why is there such a huge drop from temp to permanent? I feel like I'm being punished for being hurt on the job?
By the way this is in California. I have retained an attorney and he told me now I have to decide if I want my settlement to be in one lump sum or have open medical? Do I want open medical? I mean they have told me it has healed and really there is nothing I can do other then possibly having shots in my back and knee or having surgery on the knee to scrape. There's nothing that can be done for the back. Why would I need open medical then?
If I'M going on and on its only because I am still shocked at the check I received. WOW!! I can no longer do what I did as far as work so I'm not sure which way to go on this. I made a little over $52,000. a year and now there giving me $230.00 a week?
Help!!!!! Does someone have a winning lottery ticket!

when you have finished recovery and become permanent you are expected to find work within your new restrictions. you can apply for unemployment until you get back to work.

Well that is refreshing. I wouldn't mind that if they opt for retraining.
The kind of work I know and was trained for requires me to be on my feet running around lifting and moving things around, something I can not remotely do any more. Yes I can collect unemployment for under a year and then what? I loved what I do and can no longer perform my occupation because of a injury that occured on there property. I am not trained to do anything else that will give me the compensation I was receiving. So again I am being punished for tripping on a chair that was placed by them inappropriately and will have to pay the consequences everyday of my life for $230.00 per week. Which by the way is still considerably lower then the $1,148.00 that was being paid to me for being Temporary disabled. That still does not make any sense, that's a huge difference. YA GOTTA LOVE IT!

Hello Wittyl ! I can imagine the total shock that you are experiencing, WC is already less than your regular salary, and to open your mail and find that! I work in MA and they have notify the state first and then you before they lower your rate. THey don't have to do that where you are? THAT is awful!! I would probably have dropped of a heart attack if I opened my check yesterday to find it less than half of what I expected! I live fear of the mail every day being the notification letter!

Good Luck to you! Hey, can you add money for shock therapy to your settlement? lol!

HEllo, welcome to the forum.

I know where you are coming from on the shock. I went from 1128 every 2 weeks from wc then the dr said they can no longer do anything for me so I reached an mmi of 4% then wc started to send checks of 300 each week but I only get that for 8 weeks so you need to find out if these checks they are sending you are for your mmi % because if they are you only get them so long. Good luck to ya and keep us informed.

You know thats the best idea I've herd, how much money are we talking about for shock therapy? (lol)

??? I assumed that was my permanent forever amount? I've never herd of what you have mentioned? Hey at least yours is $300.00, I cant believe they are sending me $230.00 I mean really, my car gas was more then that!

you're correct. serious injuries and health problems are difficulties and obstacles that many have to overcome. there are resources out there but you'll have to work at finding them.
they don't opt for anything. whether you want retraining or not is up to you. you'll be entitled to a supplemental job displacement voucher depending on your level of disability.
here's the link
http://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/rehab.html

My position was eliminated last June, I was given my walking papers but the link you gave me was very interesting as far as vouchers for retraining. I will lo0k into that as well as discuss it with my attorney.
Thank you very much.