A. Refusal to Pay Compensation.

Sometimes an employer, or more often its insurance company, refuses to pay comp benefits. In those cases, the employee may find it necessary to file a special petition with the Commission. If the Commission decides that the employer’s refusal to pay benefits was without cause, the Commission can assess penalties and fees against the employer. The same type of procedure is also available if the employer refuses to pay medical bills.

B. Increased Disability.

If a case proceeds to hearing to determine how much a Workers’ Compensation award will be and if the Commission awards the worker any amount of disability, the worker has five years to ask for additional compensation should the worker’s disability increase. This is a right that the employer often requires the employee to give up in the event a case settles without a hearing.