The loss of a loved one can be all-consuming. The grief you are feeling is indescribable. But you also need to figure out how you are going to take care of yourself and your family despite your grief.
Your relative may have been entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if they were injured in a work accident. This means your family may be entitled to St. Paul death and dependency benefits. Find out what these benefits are and how to get your claim for benefits approved when you contact an experienced attorney at Kemmitt, Sanford & Kramer to take on your case.
After everything you have been through, choosing the right attorney to help you access the death and dependency benefits you need should not be difficult. With Kemmitt, Sanford & Kramer, you can expect:
When you lose a loved one in a work accident, your entire life will be changed. But if you relied on your family member financially, your situation may be particularly precarious. This is because you will need to figure out how to cover your costs and expenses without the income of your family member.
Thankfully, your loved ones’ workers’ compensation insurance provider may be required to cover certain expenses and provide you with specific benefits depending on the details of your case. Some of the parties who may qualify for St. Paul death and dependency benefits include:
The familial relationship that you may have with the decedent is not necessarily what matters when you are seeking to obtain death and dependency benefits. What matters is that the decedent was partially or wholly responsible for providing for you financially. If this is the case, you may be entitled to death and dependency benefits.
If you are interested in obtaining death and dependency benefits in St. Paul, you may be wondering what these benefits may consist of. First, you can expect the insurance company to be required to cover the cost of your loved one’s burial and funeral expenses up to a maximum of $15,000.
Next, the insurance company should also be ordered to cover the medical expenses your family member incurred as a result of their fatal work injury. Finally, the family members who are entitled to death and dependency benefits may also qualify for specific disability benefits. The relationship to the decedent, the amount of financial responsibility, and other factors can all have an impact on how much these benefits amount to.
For some, you might be awarded as much as 66 2/3% of the decedent’s average weekly wages. But for others, this amount could drop as low as thirty percent. The more financially dependent you were on the decedent, the more your disability benefits will likely amount to.
The length of time that you are allowed to collect St. Paul death and dependency benefits can vary widely. The type of relationship that you had with the decedent and how much you relied on them to support you financially will determine how long you can collect these benefits for.
For the vast majority of families who are collecting death and dependency benefits, you can expect to continue to collect benefits for up to ten years after the decedent’s passing. However, a minor child turning eighteen years old, a spouse remarrying, and other factors could all have an impact on whether your death and dependency benefits continue or cease.
If you believe you should have been entitled to death and dependency benefits in St. Paul, but your claim for such benefits was denied, you may have the right to file an appeal. Your attorney will need to carefully examine the details of your case to determine whether a minor mistake was made that can be corrected, or if your claim for benefits was wrongfully denied.
The Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry is responsible for overseeing workers’ compensation appeals in St. Paul and across the state of Minnesota. The majority of appeals can be resolved here when you produce additional supporting evidence or documentation. However, your case may need to move forward to the Office of Administrative Hearings if the insurer continues to deny your claim. Here, your case will be heard by a workers’ compensation judge.
Insurance companies lose money by paying out on claims. For this reason, it should not surprise you if your claim for St. Paul death and dependency benefits is denied. Make sure you take the appropriate action to protect your future and get an experienced attorney to help you with your appeal.
If you are interested in learning more about how you and your family could collect St. Paul death and dependency benefits, but you are not sure where to turn for help, contact a dedicated St. Paul workers’ comp lawyer at Kemmitt, Sanford & Kramer.
Our firm offers free, no-obligation consultations to families across St. Paul and surrounding cities. Take advantage of this opportunity today. Call our office at (877) 630-7338 or fill out our contact form to schedule yours.
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