FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
California Would Still Rank Among Lowest in U.S.
Governor’s Permanent Disability Proposal is No Fix
How much is your ear worth?
Under Governor Schwarzenegger’s new Permanent Disability compensation proposal, Californians injured at work would still receive permanent disability compensation among the lowest in the nation. “Loss of hearing in one ear in California currently is worth just $5,280, which the governor proposes to increase by just $479. California continues to be the lowest in the nation in compensating injured workers for permanently disabling injuries,” said Sue Borg, president of the California Applicants’ Attorneys Association (CAAA), whose members represent hundreds of thousands of workers injured on the job each year... more
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Monday, May 12, 2008
The perils of workers' compensation
SAN MATEO DAILY NEWS
By Bil Paul
California By the Numbers
April 29, 2008
When you're seriously injured on the job, the California workers' compensation system is there to help you through difficult times. Or is it?
My wife injured her wrist in a fall and went to a Kaiser emergency room to have it X-rayed and a cast applied. Upon arrival, as usual, Kaiser asked if the injury was work related, and that began the paperwork of becoming involved with "the system." Afterwards, her employer's workers' comp insurer insisted that one of the docs on their network check out the wrist. My wife called eight docs on their list before finding one to see her. By that time, it was time for the cast to come off, and the new doctor removed it. Three weeks later, because of the original fall, her thumb lost all movement, and the workers' comp doc's office was contacted. They said they couldn't look at the thumb until two weeks later. ... more
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Friday, May 9, 2008
INJURED WORKERS, ADVOCATES:
GOVERNOR’S DISABILITY BENEFITS RESTORATION IS “RIDICULOUSLY SMALL”
California’s compensation would remain among lowest;
Decreases compensation to older workers
Sacramento, CA - Injured workers and their advocates today said the governor’s proposal to restore a small percentage of the permanent disability compensation he cut by 50% to 70% is wholly inadequate in view of the Administration’s own studies. The injured workers’ advocates called instead for passage of SB 1717, that seeks to restore half of the compensation taken from permanently disabled workers. The advocates released figures showing that even with the governor’s proposed increase, California would remain well below neighboring states, and comparable US states, in compensating permanently disabled workers. “This proposal does not fix the harm done to injured workers. California workers permanently disabled on the job would still receive compensation that is among the lowest in the nation under the governor’s proposal. This schedule has eliminated the age adjustment for workers between the ages of 41 to 51, further reducing their ‘average rating.’ The proposal does not come close to making up the reductions that the administration’s own studies found,” said Sue Borg, president of the California Applicants’ Attorneys Association (CAAA), whose members represent hundreds of thousands of workers injured on the job each year. “Injured workers have suffered 50 to 70 percent cuts to benefits that were never intended by the legislature. Even the administration’s own studies showed a decrease in the average rating of up to 41%. To give some injured workers a meager increase while decreasing compensation to older workers is nearly meaningless.”
Multiple independent studies, including studies conducted last year by the Division of Workers Compensation’s Administrative Director, have documented 50% to 70% cuts in compensation for permanent disabilities.
The governor has vetoed two bills by Senator Don Perata that would have doubled permanent disability compensation, promising instead a correction via the regulatory process. With today’s meager proposed increase, the injured workers of this state and their advocates will look once again to the Legislature for much needed help.
“It’s insulting to cut disability compensation by 50% to 70% and then give only some injured workers back a dime or so on the dollar,” said Jesse Ceniceros, president of VotersInjuredatWork.org, an advocacy group of and for injured workers. “Permanently disabled workers rely on this compensation for their survival and that of their families. This inadequate increase does not address the unfairness of the governor’s permanent disability benefits schedule.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
How much is Your Eye Worth in California?
Governor’s Permanent Disability Compensation is Blind to Worker’s Loss
Californians injured on the job receive less in compensation than those injured in all other states. Governor Schwarzenegger reduced compensation for workers who live the rest of their lives with disabilities caused by work-related injuries by more than 50%. Multiple independent studies have confirmed this drastic reduction. See chart
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Thursday, May 1, 2008
What's a Toe Worth?
SACRAMENTO BEE
Capitol Alert
By Dan Walters
California By the Numbers
April 29, 2008
If a California worker loses a big toe – or at least its use – in an on-the-job accident, it’s worth $3,960 in workers’ compensation benefits, but $61,874 if the worker is in Oregon, according to a state-by-state compilation of payments for jobrelated maladies by a coalition attempting to raise California benefits. ... more
Chart comparing benefits in California to those in other states
Denial of Care - http://www.denialofcare.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Four Years After Governor’s Compensation Cuts:
INJURED WORKERS, ADVOCATES TO CALL ON
GOVERNOR TO RESTORE DISABILITY BENEFITS
California’s compensation among lowest
Sacramento, CA - Injured workers and their advocates held a news conference Wednesday calling upon the governor to restore compensation to permanently
disabled workers. ...more
Permanent Disability Benefits Neighbor States
Insurers Kept More in Profits Than Was Paid in Benefits to Injured Workers
State Senate alters limits on workers' comp
ASSOCIATED PRESS
March 11, 2008
SACRAMENTO – The state Senate approved legislation yesterday that would
prohibit doctors from considering age, race or genetic factors in determining the
size of workers' compensation benefits for employees who suffer job-related
disabilities.....more
