In the United States, undocumented workers often face challenges with their employment rights. However, even if they don’t have legal immigration status, they still have certain legal protections, like filing for workers’ compensation benefits.
Workers’ compensation is a system that helps employees who get hurt or sick because of their jobs. It usually pays for medical bills, lost wages and rehabilitation costs. The good news is that workers’ compensation is available to everyone, no matter their immigration status. This means that if an undocumented worker gets hurt while working, they can still apply for workers’ compensation to cover their injuries.
Steps to take
If you are an undocumented worker injured on the job, there are essential steps to follow to make sure you get the benefits you deserve:
- Report the injury: Notify your employer as soon as possible, providing details about how and when it occurred.
- Seek medical attention: Visit a healthcare professional to get treatment for your injuries and obtain medical documentation.
- Document the incident: Keep detailed records of the injury, including medical reports, treatment received and any related expenses.
- Complete necessary forms: Fill out the required workers’ compensation claim forms provided by your employer or state workers’ compensation board.
- Submit the claim: Submit the completed forms to your employer or the relevant workers’ compensation agency, making sure it includes all necessary paperwork.
- Follow up on the claim: Stay in touch with your employer and the workers’ compensation board to monitor your claim’s status.
- Attend medical appointments: Continue attending all scheduled medical appointments and follow the treatment plan your doctor prescribes.
- Get legal help: If you encounter any issues or disputes with your claim, consider seeking advice from a legal professional specializing in workers’ compensation.
We are here to help you
This law firm has Spanish speakers on staff. We also can help undocumented workers file workers’ compensation claims and address any disputes over the claim. Get the benefits you deserve for your work-related injuries.