If you are injured or become ill because of your job, New Jersey law allows you to pursue workers’ compensation benefits to cover temporary and permanent disability, as well as medical expenses. There are, as well, death benefits that will be paid if your loved one dies in a workplace accident or because of a work-related disease.
The Death Benefits Allowed in a New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Claim
If you qualify as a dependent of a worker who has died from a work-related injury or illness, you will be entitled to payment of 70% of the decedent’s average weekly wage over the 52 weeks prior to death or illness, capped at the statutory amount. As the spouse or biological child who is living with and dependent on the deceased at the time of death, you will automatically be presumed to be a dependent. However, even if you were not living with the deceased at the time of death, you can still receive benefits if you can prove to the workers’ compensation judge that you were actually dependent on the decedent.
A biological or natural child of the deceased will be considered a dependent until the age of 18, or until the age of 23, if a full-time student. A child who suffers a physical or mental disability may qualify as a dependent, regardless of age.
In addition to the weekly benefits, surviving dependents are also entitled to payment of funeral and burial expenses up to $3,500.
Contact Us
To arrange a private meeting, contact us by e-mail or call our office at 908-200-2297. Evening and weekend meetings are available upon request. We take all major credit cards.
We handle all workers’ compensation cases on a contingency basis. We won’t charge you any attorney fees unless we are able to get compensation for your losses.
