You were hurt on the job, filed a workers’ compensation claim, and started receiving benefits. Then, without warning, the checks stopped coming. Maybe you received a letter from the insurance company, or maybe your payments simply stopped showing up.
If you are dealing with this situation in Fort Lauderdale or elsewhere in Broward County, you may be wondering how you will pay your bills while recovering from a work injury. You may also be worried about how you will afford medical care or whether you did something wrong.
A sudden stop in workers’ compensation benefits does not necessarily mean your claim is over. Understanding why payments may have stopped, what rights you have under Florida law, and what steps to take next can help you determine how to move forward.
Why Would Workers’ Compensation Benefits Stop?
Insurance companies may stop or change workers’ compensation benefits for several reasons. Some involve legitimate changes in an injured worker’s medical condition or employment status. Others may be disputed.
Common reasons benefits may stop include:
- Maximum medical improvement (MMI): A doctor determines that your condition has stabilized and is not expected to improve significantly with additional treatment. Reaching MMI does not automatically mean you lose all benefits, but it can affect the type and amount of compensation available.
- A disputed medical opinion: An independent medical examination (IME) doctor disagrees with your treating physician about your injury, your need for treatment, or your ability to return to work.
- A dispute over your work-related injury: The insurance company argues that your workplace accident is no longer the major contributing cause of your current condition.
- A return to work: You return to your job or begin working elsewhere, and the insurance company determines that you no longer qualify for the same wage-loss benefits.
- A paperwork or reporting issue: The carrier claims that you missed a required appointment, failed to provide requested information, or did not comply with a requirement.
- A dispute over the original claim: The insurance company questions whether your injury happened at work or whether the condition is covered by workers’ compensation.
The reason your payments stopped matters because it affects your options. For example, reaching MMI may change your eligibility for certain benefits, but it does not necessarily end your right to medical care or other compensation. Likewise, an insurance company’s disagreement with your doctor does not automatically mean its position is correct.
If your checks have stopped, we advise that you try to find out why before assuming that you have no further options.
What Are Your Rights Under Florida Workers’ Compensation Law?
Florida’s workers’ compensation laws establish rules governing when benefits may be paid, changed, suspended, or terminated.
Under Florida Statutes Section 440.20(3), an insurance carrier that suspends or stops paying compensation must provide the required notice to the injured employee, the employer, and the state. The specific notice requirements depend on the circumstances.
If your benefits suddenly stopped, review any letters or forms you received from the insurance company. Look for the stated reason for the change, the effective date, and any instructions about challenging the decision. If you received no explanation, that is worth investigating.
You also have the right to dispute a workers’ compensation decision when you believe benefits were improperly denied, reduced, or terminated. Depending on the issue, you may be able to file a Petition for Benefits with Florida’s Office of the Judges of Compensation Claims.
Deadlines and procedural requirements can affect your ability to recover benefits. If you disagree with the insurance company’s decision, do not assume that the issue will resolve itself or that you can wait indefinitely to challenge it.
Steps to Take When Your Workers’ Comp Checks Stop
If your workers’ compensation payments have stopped in Fort Lauderdale, take these steps to protect your interests.
- Find out why the payments stopped.
Review any notices from the insurance company and contact the adjuster to request an explanation if necessary. Ask which benefits have been stopped, when the change took effect, and what reason the carrier is relying on. Keep a record of your communications.
- Gather your paperwork.
Collect your medical records, work restrictions, benefit statements, pay stubs, accident reports, and correspondence with the insurance company. These documents may help establish your injury history, your need for treatment, and the benefits you were receiving before the payments stopped.
- Continue following your medical treatment plan.
Keep attending appointments and follow your treating physician’s recommendations. If you cannot afford transportation or have another obstacle that prevents you from attending an appointment, communicate that problem promptly. Unexplained gaps in treatment may complicate a claim.
- Be careful about returning to work or signing documents.
If your employer offers modified duties, make sure you understand your restrictions and communicate with your doctor and attorney about any concerns. Do not ignore a legitimate return-to-work instruction, but do not perform duties that may put your health at risk. Before signing a settlement agreement or release, understand what rights you may be giving up.
- Get legal advice if you believe the decision is wrong.
A workers’ compensation attorney can review the reason benefits stopped, explain your options under Florida law, and determine whether a formal challenge may be appropriate. Acting promptly can help prevent missed deadlines and unnecessary delays.
Speak With a Fort Lauderdale Workers’ Compensation Attorney
All of this can be complicated and is frustrating. When workers’ compensation checks stop, the financial pressure can build quickly. Rent, mortgage payments, utilities, groceries, and other household expenses do not stop just because your benefits have been interrupted.
For injured workers in Fort Lauderdale, Plantation, Sunrise, Davie, Pompano Beach, and other Broward County communities, understanding your rights can be an important first step toward resolving a benefits dispute.
Adam Baron Law represents injured workers in Florida workers’ compensation matters. If your benefits have been stopped, reduced, or denied, an attorney can review the circumstances, explain the options that may be available, and help you understand the next steps in your claim.
You do not have to assume the insurance company’s decision is final. Contact Adam Baron Law to discuss your situation and learn what you can do to protect your rights.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stopped Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Can a Florida workers’ compensation insurance company stop my checks without warning?
Florida law imposes notice requirements when compensation is suspended or stopped. Whether the carrier complied with those requirements depends on the circumstances and the type of benefit involved. If your payments stopped without an explanation, request the reason in writing and consider having the decision reviewed.
Can I still receive workers’ compensation benefits after reaching MMI?
Possibly. Maximum medical improvement generally means your condition has stabilized. It does not automatically end every benefit. Depending on your medical condition, work restrictions, impairment rating, and other circumstances, you may remain eligible for medical benefits or certain forms of compensation.
What should I do if my workers’ compensation claim is denied or my benefits are terminated?
Keep copies of all notices, medical records, and communications with the insurance carrier. Find out the reason for the decision and speak with a Florida workers’ compensation attorney about whether you can challenge it. Deadlines may apply.
Does Adam Baron Law help injured workers in Fort Lauderdale and Broward County?
Adam Baron Law serves injured workers throughout Florida, including workers in Fort Lauderdale and surrounding Broward County communities. An attorney can review the circumstances of your claim and explain the options available under Florida law.