Workers’ compensation benefits are extremely important for many workers all across the country, including in New York. These benefits are wonderful protections afforded to workers so that employees are not concerned about losing their jobs if they are injured while working. Perhaps the best thing about workers’ compensation benefits is that they are usually easy to recover since you are eligible as long as you were injured on the job. Best of all, nearly all employees in the state are covered.
Unfortunately, there are some categories and industries that do not offer workers’ compensation benefits to their employees. There are so few of these employees, however, that it is actually easier to discuss which employees are not covered by workers’ compensation than those that are.
It may not surprise you to learn that many casual employment circumstances, such as baby-sitting, do not allow workers’ compensation, nor can you be covered by benefits if you work fewer than 40 hours per week if you are a domestic employee. What you might not know is that railroad employees are not covered, nor are firefighters and officers employed by New York City. Additionally, clergymen are generally not covered by workers’ compensation.
If you have been injured on the job, and you are not sure whether or not you are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, consider meeting with an attorney to learn more about the law. Even if you are certain that you are eligible for compensation, it can still be to your benefit to meet with an attorney, even if you have already been offered a payout. An attorney can help you make a stronger case and may be able to help you recover more compensation.
