How To Apply For Workers’ Compensation Benefits In Maryland

Our workers’ compensation attorneys can help you through the process

If you sustained a work-related injury or illness in Maryland, you may be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits. However, you don’t automatically get workers’ comp if you get sick or hurt at work. You have to actually apply for workers’ compensation benefits in Maryland.

This might sound simple. However, the process for applying for these benefits can be complicated. And if you make a mistake, your workers’ compensation application might be denied or delayed, resulting in you not receiving critical benefits.

We understand what’s at stake at Goldberg Finnegan. That’s why our workers’ compensation attorneys want to help. We have years of experience successfully helping injured workers in Silver Spring and throughout Maryland apply for workers’ compensation benefits.

We thoroughly understand how the application process works. And we promise to be upfront with you throughout your case. We often say we will give you the same advice we would give a family member and we mean it.

Applying for workers’ compensation benefits

If you sustained an injury at work, you need to take certain steps in order to apply for workers’ compensation benefits in Maryland. These steps include:

See a doctor after your workplace injury. If you don’t receive medical care, your worker’s compensation application will likely be denied. Why? Because you have no proof that you got hurt at work.
Tell your employer or supervisor that you sustained an injury at work. You can notify your employer verbally or in writing.
File a formal application with the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission. This application is called an “Employee Claim Form.” You can apply for workers’ compensation benefits online or by mail.

How soon can I apply for workers’ compensation?

You can apply for workers’ compensation in Maryland any time after your workplace injury. There’s no waiting period to apply. However, in order to be eligible to receive workers’ compensation in Maryland, you need to have missed at least three (3) days of work due to your work-related injury.

In addition, you will not receive workers’ compensation right away, even if your application is approved. Instead, your first workers’ compensation check often will not arrive until at least 15 days after your application is approved.

Deadline for applying for workers’ comp in Maryland

There are legal deadlines you need to keep in mind when applying for workers’ compensation in Maryland, including:

10 days to notify your employer that you sustained a work-related injury or illness on the job. This notice is formally known as the “First Report of Injury.”
60 days to notify the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission of your work-related injury. However, this deadline can sometimes be waived depending on the circumstances of your injury.
2 years to formally apply for workers’ compensation with the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission from the date of your work-related injury. However, if you wait this long, there’s often a lot of doubt about whether you actually sustained an injury at work that qualifies for workers’ compensation benefits.

The bottom line? The sooner you apply for workers’ compensation in Maryland, the better.

Who decides to approve or deny my application?

Initially, this is decision is up to your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance company. They’re the ones who decide whether or not to approve your application for benefits.

If your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance company does not provide you with any benefits after your workplace injury, you can request a hearing with the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission. A commissioner will then decide whether you are entitled to receive benefits.

If the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission denies your request for benefits, you can appeal a denied workers’ compensation claim. Your appeal will then be decided by a Circuit Court of Maryland judge.

How can a workers’ compensation attorney help?

Applying for workers’ compensation benefits in Maryland can be a complicated, confusing process. If you make a mistake at any point during the application process, your Employee Claim Form may be denied, resulting in you not receiving workers’ compensation.

An experienced Maryland workers’ compensation lawyer can help you navigate your way through this complex legal process. Your attorney can:

Help you accurately fill out your application form.
Make sure you don’t miss important deadlines.
Represent you in court, especially if you decide to file an appeal for a denied workers’ compensation claim.

Put our knowledge to work for you. Contact us today

Experience matters when it comes to choosing the right Maryland workers’ compensation attorney. That’s why many people choose the lawyers at Goldberg Finnegan to represent them. Our attorneys have years of experience successfully representing injured workers applying for workers’ compensation benefits in Maryland.

Get the Silver Spring law firm that gets results. Contact us and schedule your free case evaluation. We handle workers’ compensation claims throughout Maryland.