Did you know that the United States saw approximately 5,486 worker deaths, and employers reported almost 3.5 million work-related injuries and illnesses in 2024?

Understanding the differences between the Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF) and Workers’ Compensation can be important when supporting an injured worker.

According to a Monroe workers’ compensation lawyer, both programs provide financial assistance and medical care to injured workers but serve different purposes and operate under distinct guidelines.

Understanding which program best meets your needs and eligibility can help you achieve or maintain financial stability, even if you cannot expedite the process. 

This article will give an overview of both of these systems and how they provide adequate support to injured employees.

Overview of Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation supports employees who sustained injuries while working and helps cover medical costs, lost pay, and rehabilitation.

If a worker is injured in the course of their employment, the law gives them the right to seek special damages. The worker doesn’t have to prove the injury was their fault or the employer’s fault to get these benefits. The system encourages employers to create a healthy working environment. The system reminds employers that injuries will only lead to lower productivity and higher expenses.

Your chances of obtaining a claim may be jeopardized if you fail to follow the proper reporting procedure or delay reporting your injury to your employer or the appropriate authorities. 

The calculation of the benefits or compensation amount will vary based on applicable state laws. The severity of the injury will also influence the coverage amount. 

When an employee reports a workplace injury, the employer is required to take appropriate action. Meanwhile, workers are encouraged to follow workers’ guidelines for reporting workplace-related injuries.

Workers’ compensation cases can be confusing, so it is critical to track and classify rights and duties for this system. As an employer, you need to prioritize the safety and recovery of your employees first.

Understanding the Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund

Understanding the Subsequent Injury Benefit Trust Fund (SIBTF) can help you deal with the complications of work injuries. SIBTF provides support for workers who suffer additional injuries after they have already been living with a pre-existing disability.

SIBTF helps individuals claim additional benefits for workers who already have pre-existing disabilities and those who suffer another disability that makes their existing disability worse.

Understanding how long SIBTF takes to process claims is important, as it can impact your financial planning during recovery.

SIBTF considers both the pre-existing disability and the new work injury together when calculating the benefits. This means that the total compensation is greater than if each injury were considered separately.

The main purpose of the SIBTF is to motivate employers to hire people with previous disabilities. Knowing how to use the SIBTF can be helpful when attempting to exercise your rights and benefits.

Eligibility Criteria for Workers’ Compensation

Understanding how the Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund works in relation to workers’ compensation could help you explore the many areas of workplace injury benefits.

The most important requirement for getting compensation is that there must be a link between your health issues and your work. You must be an employee, not an independent contractor, and the injury must happen at your workplace. Under the state laws, employers must document the injury, usually within 30 days. Familiarize yourself with the different state laws that apply to your case to prevent potential legal disputes in the future. 

Another thing you need to show is medical records that demonstrate the extent of your injury. Pre-existing conditions that relate to your injury will have an effect on your ability to get compensation. Previous injuries or illnesses might be taken into account when deciding on your compensation.

Eligibility Criteria for the Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund

Candidates must fulfill specific conditions to be eligible for the Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund.

Interested individuals must have records of an existing health condition that limits their ability to work. The condition should be verified by a trusted medical professional.

If you want to apply for the Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund, you should have sustained a new work injury causing a substantial reduction in your compensable earning capacity. 

Keep in mind that there are deadlines for filing claims. Failing to meet the deadlines can invalidate your claim and cause you to lose out on your benefits.

You must affirm that the combination of your new injury and your pre-existing condition has resulted in an increased impairment. 

Meeting these requirements allows you to receive benefits from the trust fund and help your recovery.

Differences Between SIBTF and Workers’ Compensation

The purpose of workers’ compensation is to compensate injured workers for their medical bills and lost wages. 

Meanwhile, SIBTF becomes important where the injured worker had a prior industrial or non-industrial injury. SIBTF is a specific type of program that is not open to all types of diseases or conditions.