When you’re injured at work, the last thing you want to do is jump through hoops to secure your job, medical costs, or wages. Unfortunately, although workers’ compensation should automatically take care of these worries and allow you to recover in peace, it just doesn’t work that way. To successfully obtain your benefits, you must fill out packets of forms, verify and re-verify injury expenses, learn your rights, and fulfill countless responsibilities.
However, thankfully, you don’t have to bear all of this weight on your own. The Employee Assistance Office (EAO) for the Division of Workers’ Compensation is here to help.
The Purpose and Resources of the EAO
What is the Employee Assistance Office? What does it do? How does it work to affect your benefits?
The Division of Workers’ Compensation has several offices that work to make applying and receiving worker comp benefits easier and faster. The Employee Assistance Office helps prevent and resolve potential problems and disputes between injured workers, employers, and insurance carriers. Disputes focusing on benefit discrepancies, allotted recovery time, wage adjustments, and medical cost inconsistencies can all be brought to the attention of the EAO for review and resolution.
In addition to solving disputes, the EAO also functions to:
- Address statewide workers’ compensation concerns. It has offices throughout the state that you can call or visit.
- Initiate contact with injured employees to ensure that know their rights and responsibilities following a work-related accident.
- Advise injured workers about services available through EAO.
- Educate parties involved and route necessary information to where it needs to be.
- Assist involved parties in completing their responsibilities.
- Investigate disputes and resolve issues to prevent workers or employers from accruing costly litigation expenses or suffering delays in benefits.
- Provide reemployment options and services to injured employees who are unable to return to work as a result of their previous accident.
- Assist you with understanding workers’ compensation procedures and how to file a petition for benefits with a judge of compensation claims if the insurance company denies your claim.
If you’ve recently been injured in a work-related accident and need help with your injury claim, contact us today. Our knowledge and eagerness to fight for you will show you why having an experienced lawyer is the first step to getting the benefits you deserve.
Need more information about your worker rights? Please take a minute to download our FREE report, It’s Not Rocket Science, It’s Workers’ Comp. You’ll not only learn more about your rights and claim options, but you’ll also see how our knowledge and experience can help you get the justice you deserve.