It is common for most of us to think injury or illness won’t affect us. To protect your family from financial strain, it would be prudent to think about the probability of falling sick or hurt and being unable to work and what you could do about it.

A lot of people have conditions that limit their capacity to work. Some may develop these conditions long before they retire. Programs like Social Security Disability Insurance are available to assist those living with disabilities or illness and their families in managing their lives should an unforeseen injury or sickness occur.

The Benefits Offered

The Social Security Administration offers two programs that can ensure proper disability payments. The program would depend on your workplace and financial situation.

The Social Security Disability Insurance program, which is supported by payroll deductions, can be a resource for employees who have made contributions to the system. Conversely, people with lower incomes, kids, and visual impairments may benefit from Supplemental Security Income. Most disability benefits come in the form of payments meant to make up for lost wages.

How to Apply for Disability Benefits

It is possible to file a claim for disability benefits online, in person, or over a call. It would help to gather all required paperwork and data. Documents such as income tax returns, a list of all prescribed drugs, and dates for any operations and treatment appointments. Preparing well will make sure that everything goes smoothly.

The date on which the person became disabled and unable to work full-time is known as the disability onset date. It is one of the most important considerations in your claim. Documents of employment history claims made in the application, medical proof, and testimonies from family are used to make the determination.

Hiring a Lawyer

A lawyer needs precise facts to comprehend a Social Security disability claim.

The lawyer will inquire about the status of the claim during the initial meeting. Without the assistance of a lawyer, the analyzing process is exceedingly complicated and challenging to manage. It is crucial to submit an appeal if a Social Security disability claim has been rejected.

A timely appeal of a Social Security disability denial is required to overturn the decision. Every state has a different set of regulations governing when to submit an appeal. It is important to note if an appeal is submitted past the due date, it can be rejected.

When you work with an experienced Social Security lawyer, they will help you navigate the application process, identify deadlines, and help you sidestep potential pitfalls so you can claim the benefits you deserve.

Have you been denied disability benefits? Contact Regas & Haag, Ltd. to learn how we can help. We handle every phase of your Social Security Disability case so you can get the benefits you are entitled to.

Losing a job and any source of income due to an occupational disease or illness can exacerbate an already bad situation for the person involved. However, there are resources for vulnerable and unemployed workers who have become temporarily or totally disabled due to a work-related disease or illness.

This guide will explain how occupational diseases are defined and what types of illnesses are compensable according to the state’s industrial commission.

What Is an Occupational Disease?

According to the United States Department of Labor, ”An illness is an abnormal condition or disorder. Illnesses include both acute and chronic illnesses, such as, but not limited to, skin diseases, respiratory disorders, or poisoning. Additionally, illnesses are recordable only if they are new, work-related cases that meet one or more of the 1904 recording criteria. “

What Causes Occupational Disease?

An occupational disease is any illness caused by hazards in the workplace. These hazards may include physical, chemical, and biological elements such as the following:

• Dust, gas, or fumes
• Chemicals and toxic substances
• Extreme changes in temperatures, noises, or pressure
• Physical vibrations, constant pressure, and physical movement in constant repetition or radioactive rays
• Infections and organisms
• Radiation

What Types of Illnesses Are Compensable?

There is a list of compensable occupational diseases stipulated by state law, including the following

• Anthrax
• Glanders
• Lead poisoning
• Mercury poisoning
• Phosphorus poisoning
• Arsenic poisoning
• Poisoning by benzoyl or by nitro-derivatives and amido-derivatives of benzol
• Poisoning by gasoline, benzine, naphtha, or other volatile petroleum products
• Poisoning by carbon disulphide

What Is Occupational Disease Claim?

Occupational diseases can leave you temporarily or permanently disabled in some ways, limiting your ability to return to work. In such cases, you are entitled to file an occupational disease claim. This claim entitles you to certain compensation till the date you are unable to resume your work or unable to join the workforce again.

What Do You Need to Get Workers Compensation?

If you have been diagnosed with a workplace-related disease, you will need a diagnosis report from a licensed medical practitioner to ensure you receive fair compensation. The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation requires a medical diagnosis to establish the link between the disease and the harmful effect of a hazardous element.

However, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation also states that mere exposure or contact with disease-causing elements does not automatically entitle anyone to compensation. If you are taking any preventive measures against the plausible disease, you will not receive any compensation.

When Can You Receive Workers’ Compensation?

 The date for filing an occupational disease claim must be most recently after the disease’s diagnosis or medical treatment. According to state law, you are entitled to compensation at the following times:

• The date of the diagnosis of occupational disease.
• The date workers receive their first medical treatment for occupational disease.
• The day workers discontinued their current job due to the exacerbating condition of occupational disease.

Time Limitation

Certain occupational diseases can take years to manifest or go unnoticed at first. It is incredibly tricky to establish the cause of the disease in any workplace situation. However, according to state law, a compensation claim must be filed within six months of the diagnosis or two years after the disability caused by the occupational disease begins. You may lose your claim for compensation if you file it after that.

Who Can File for Claim?

Any person suffering from an occupational disease or their authorized representatives can file a claim.

You may be going through a lot to take proper action if you fell victim to an occupational hazard. Regas & Haag, Ltd is dedicated to assisting you in successfully navigating legal liabilities for fair compensation. Our attorneys at Regas & Haag, Ltd. will help you with everything from contacting your doctor for your medical records and reports to filing compensation claims and preparing you for necessary legal hearings.

You can contact us by visiting our website or calling 330-649-9102 to get started.

Workplace injuries are common and can occur in even the safest workplace. There are laws governing the compensation of injured employees. However, it can be challenging to get your compensation as most companies are not thrilled about making these payments.

What Is TTD?

TTD benefits refer to compensation as a result of a disability obtained from a workplace injury. The two categories of TTD are temporary total disability and temporary partial disability. This means an employee has incurred an injury at work that has left them disabled either temporarily or permanently. The company agrees to pay part of the employee’s salary for as long as they are out of work.

Eligibility for TTD

To be eligible for TTD, convincing evidence that the injury was incurred at work is necessary. Additionally, you will require an assessment from a medical doctor to ascertain that you cannot go back to work in the condition. The TTD payments will eventually end when the doctor confirms that you are well enough to return to work.

In some circumstances, the disapproval of the insurance company can also lead to loss of payment. This can occur if the assessing doctor is questionable. However, once you have been allowed back to work with restrictions that your company cannot accommodate, you remain eligible for TTD.

Applying for TTD

You can request TTD payment in Ohio by submitting a Physician’s Report of Work Ability (MEDCO-14) and C84 forms. Submit the two documents to the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation for assessment.

TTD Payment calculation

The first 12 weeks of TTD payments are a sum of your earnings for the 6 or 7 days before the injury. Your TTD will be 72 percent of the total weekly wage. If you cannot return to work after 12 days, the TTD will shift to the average weekly wage rate. This is calculated using your earnings for the one year preceeding the date of the accident.

At this point, the TTD rate will be around 66 percent of the average weekly wage. The TTD payments cannot exceed the state’s maximum rates set in place by the state of Ohio. Unfortunately, you cannot perform or take up any other job while on TTD. This equates to a crime punishable by the laws of the state of Ohio.

At Regas and Haag, we understand how tedious the compensation process can be. You do not have to go through the process alone. Our legal team is equipped and competent in handling the compensation process through the BWC. We will gladly schedule a meeting at no fee to discuss your rights. Because we have your best interest at heart, no attorney’s fee will be charged until we win the case. Give us a call today!

While there is a downward trend in workplace injuries due to the increased health and safety measures, it isn’t down to zero yet. Many people still suffer from workplace injuries that force them to take a temporary or permanent break from work.

After seeking medical advice for your injuries, you should get legal advice on what your next steps should be. This article highlights some of the most common workplace injuries and what you should do if you suffer from one.

1.   Falls and Slips

Slips and falls are among the most common workplace accidents and are the leading cause of worker’s compensation claims. Slips and falls can occur during many circumstances, including:

• Slipping on an oily, icy, or wet floor
• Tripping due to uncovered holes, low lighting, or debris
• Falling from skyscraper construction zones, rooftops, or ladders

Businesses should follow OSHA’s (Occupational Safety and Health Association) fall protection rules to ensure that their employees aren’t harmed on the job. If you’re injured on business premises that don’t meet the required safety standards, you should consult an attorney to file for compensation.

2.   Over-Stressing and Exertion

Overexertion injuries, such as muscular strains and RSI (repetitive strain injury), can result in long-term chronic discomfort and productivity loss. This sort of workplace injury is caused by:

• Wrong lifting method
• Lifting large items by hand
• No breaks from repetitive work
• Working on a collapsing structure
• Carrying, lifting, throwing, and pushing
• Microtasks in a factory
• Working on a computer without proper ergonomics

Your organization should provide mandatory instruction on executing physical tasks healthily without straining your muscles. If they don’t, you can follow OSHA’s ergonomics guidelines. In addition, to minimize overexertion and long-term bodily injury, make sure you take frequent pauses and use that time to relax and stretch.

However, if you’ve already faced an extreme level of such injury, you can plan your recovery and look for ways to file a lawsuit against the organization for inadequate safety and rest measures.

3.   Struck by Equipment

Walking into a sharp edge of a counter or hitting your head against low-hanging equipment is pretty serious. Being struck by equipment can lead to severe hand injuries, amputations, stress fractures, traumatic head injuries, mental trauma, etc.,

You can get  injuries from equipment when:

• Machinery is improperly protected
• Wires & cables are tangles
• Tools and small machinery are left lying around, and you trip over them
• There’s excessive vibration from machinery.

Talk to an attorney to learn how you can charge for compensation, even for minor fractures, and not just amputations of body parts.

Workplace injuries aren’t an uncommon sight, but if you’re injured due to negligence from your employer, you deserve to be compensated for your troubles. To ensure that you receive just compensation for your workers’ compensation claim, you require an experienced attorney who will be by your side until the claim gets approved. We at Regas & Haag Ltd specialize in handling workers’ compensation claims in Ohio and can offer comprehensive legal assistance that you may need for workers’ insurance claims. Contact us through our website or call us at 330-649-9102.

Regas & Haag, Ltd., is an Ohio-based law firm specializing in social security disability and workers’ compensation. Our attorneys represent injured and disabled people throughout the state. We can present your case to the Ohio Industrial Commission, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, and the Social Security Administration. Here’s what you need to know about social security disability benefits.

Understanding the Two Types of Social Security Disability Benefits

The two main types of benefits are Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). These government programs were created to provide supplemental income to eligible people—specifically, people who cannot work due to particular situations or medical conditions. There is a stringent application process in which you must prove your eligibility. Although it can be stressful, we are here and ready to help simplify all of it for you.

There are two primary differences between these two programs:

• For SSI, eligibility is determined by age, disability, income restrictions, and resources.
• In the case of SSDI, it depends on your disability and the work credits you have earned.

The process can be long and complicated; however, with the right legal counsel, it can be less stressful and more efficient. Our experienced attorneys are extremely knowledgeable about the laws and will help you navigate this challenging journey.

The Fee Structure at Regas & Haag in Canton

We understand that this is a stressful time for you. That’s why we offer a no-charge consultation with one of our attorneys. If it is difficult for you to come to our Canton office, we’ll come to you. Regas & Haag will charge you nothing if you are not found eligible and approved. A bill for our legal services is only generated if we help you win your case. There is no risk when you hire us to represent you in your SSI or SSDI proceedings.

About Us

Our company has been operating in Ohio for many years. We are dedicated to our clients and making sure that they receive the compensation they are entitled to. Our team takes great pride in our commitment to providing you with our premier personalized service. After all, we are a client-driven full-service law firm.

Regas & Haag has always fought hard for our clients in Ohio, and we will continue to fight hard for you and your family, too. Our attorneys are very responsive to your needs, and will stay in regular contact with you to keep you abreast of the status of your application. It’s only natural that you will have questions or concerns, and we know that you deserve timely answers from your attorney.

Please contact our office to set up a complimentary consultation with one of our experienced attorneys. We will meet with you wherever it is most convenient for you. You will have peace of mind knowing that an attorney from Regas & Haag is on your side.