Wage Loss and Qualifications

Did you miss a significant amount of work due to medical appointments regarding your condition? Hospitalization? Chemotherapy? Radiation? Dialysis? Surgery?

If you were unable to work due to the effects of the treatment of a qualified condition, you may be able to recover some of those lost wages.

Wage loss compensation is based on the number of years that the employee sustained a reduction in earnings as a result of a covered illness. 

Wage loss compensation is payable for years of lost wages that are prior to regular Social Security Retirement age (usually age 65).

Wage loss compensation is calculated at:

• $10,000 for each year in which wages were 25-50% less than the Average Annual Wage (AAW). The AAW is the average earnings for the 12 quarters (36 months) prior to the first quarter of wage loss.

• $15,000 for each year in which wages were less than 50% of the AAW Eligible survivors may receive compensation of $125,000 if the employee's death was caused, contributed to or aggravated by the covered illness.

Eligible survivors include: A spouse who was married to the employee for one year prior to his/her death. If there is no surviving spouse, then compensation may be awarded to a covered child.