If you’ve been injured on the job or developed an occupational illness, you may be entitled to benefits under Washington state’s workers’ compensation system. Workers’ comp is designed to protect employees by providing medical care and wage replacement while helping them recover and return to work. But many injured workers aren’t sure what benefits are available — or how to ensure they receive them.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the different types of workers’ compensation benefits available in Washington, explain how they’re calculated, and discuss when it may be time to consult a Washington workers’ compensation attorney to protect your rights.
Table of Contents
1. Medical Benefits
L&I covers all reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to your work-related injury or illness. This includes:
- Doctor visits and specialist care
- Hospital stays and surgery
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Prescriptions and medical equipment
- Travel expenses for medical appointments (in some cases)
You must see an L&I-approved provider, and all treatment must be authorized. If L&I denies coverage for a recommended treatment, your benefits may be delayed or reduced.
2. Time-Loss Compensation (Wage Replacement)
If your injury prevents you from working for more than three days, you may be eligible for time-loss compensation. This benefit replaces a portion of your lost wages while you recover.
Key facts:
- You typically receive 60–75% of your earnings prior to the injury or disease, up to a maximum cap.
- Your benefits end when a physician certifies that further treatment will not improve your condition, meaning that you have met maximum medical improvement (MMI), and you
It’s common for L&I to miscalculate or delay time-loss payments — a workers’ compensation lawyer can help correct underpayments and fight for back pay.
3. Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) Awards
If your workplace injury causes lasting damage but doesn’t prevent you from working entirely, you may be entitled to a Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) award.
- Permanent partial disability in Washington state is calculated when L&I closes your claim.
- Your impairment is rated by a doctor or your attending physician during a PPD rating exam, followed by an approved L&I doctor during an Independent Medical Exam (IME) once you have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI).
- You will receive your award after you get medical care for your injury, become employable, get a rating exam, and have your claim closed by L&I.
- If the award amount is less than three times the state’s average monthly wage at the date of injury, L&I or the self-insured-employer (SIE) sends a check for that amount.
- If the award exceeds more than three times the state’s average monthly wage at the date of injury, L&I or the SIE makes a down payment from the PPD Award Down Payment Amounts chart. They then pay the balance of the award once a month in installments equal to the worker’s monthly time-loss compensation (at the time of closure).
4. Permanent Total Disability (Pension)
If your injury or illness leaves you unable to return to any type of gainful employment, you may qualify for a lifetime pension through L&I.
To qualify:
- You must be found permanently and totally disabled
- You must not be able to perform any work, even with retraining or accommodations
- L&I must approve the pension based on medical and vocational evidence
Pension benefits can be difficult to secure without legal assistance, as L&I and employers often resist large lifetime payouts.
5. Vocational Rehabilitation and Retraining
If you cannot return to your previous job, L&I may offer vocational rehabilitation services to help you train for a new occupation.
Services may include:
- Career counseling
- Skills assessment and job search support
- Tuition and retraining for a new career path (known as “Option 2”)
However, L&I may pressure you into unsuitable retraining programs or deny benefits if you’re seen as “employable.” A Washington workers’ compensation attorney can help ensure your vocational plan is fair and realistic.
6. Structured Settlements (CRSA)
Washington allows some injured workers to settle their L&I claims through a Claim Resolution Settlement Agreement (CRSA). This structured settlement provides a negotiated payout over time in exchange for closing parts of your claim.
Important details:
- You must be over the age of 50.
- Your claim must be allowed and at least 180 days old.
Settling too early or without representation can result in significantly less compensation than you deserve.
7. Survivor Benefits
If a worker dies as a result of a job-related injury or illness, surviving family members may be entitled to:
- A one-time immediate payment to the deceased worker’s spouse or registered domestic partner
- Monthly survivor pensions
- Burial reimbursements
Survivor claims can be emotionally difficult and legally complex. An attorney can help grieving families navigate this process with compassion and care.
When to Contact a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Not all L&I claims require legal intervention — but many do. If your claim has been denied, delayed, miscalculated, or if your employer is pressuring you, it’s time to get help.
A Washington workers’ compensation attorney can:
- Review your benefits for accuracy
- Appeal denied medical treatment
- Challenge an unfair disability rating
- Guide you through pension or PPD calculations
- Represent you in hearings with L&I or the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals (BIIA)
Most importantly, an experienced attorney can protect you from being underpaid, pushed out of your job, or ignored by the system.