The Worker’s Compensation Board of Pennsylvania branches from the state’s Department of Labor & Industry which is responsible for managing citizens in cases of necessary compensation due to work accidents, retirement, and other events. Full formula benefits are usually accessible in the time of superannuation, which depends on the occupation of the individual. The Pennsylvania Worker’s Compensation Board divides these formulas into ‘classes’ which define the conditions of the employment, average salaries of their final working years, and other factors (Department of Labour and Industry, 2021). The current wage replacement policies in Pennsylvania are mostly directed towards employees that have suffered injuries in the workplace. It has a no-fault system, which allows an injured worker to benefit from the financial and medical compensation while the employer will be free of lawsuits. Currently, around 104 weeks of total leave in the case of injury or disability is given in the state of Pennsylvania, while a partial disability compensation of 500 weeks is also a possibility.
The Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, program offers benefits to people with blindness or disabilities who are insured by subsidies from the Social Security trust fund. The Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, the program provides monetary assistance to workers who are aged, blind, or disabled and are limited in terms of income and resources. The SSDI and SSI both hold an initial application, followed by a reconsideration or redetermination. The third step is a hearing that is then followed by an appeals council. The appeals have four stages or levels, which include reconsideration, administrative law judge hearing, followed by a council review, and the involvement of the federal court. The decision process can take up to five months.
Reference
Department of Labour and Industry. (2021). Workers’ Compensation. DLI.PA.GOV. Web.