Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Iowa
If you’ve been approved for workers’ compensation benefits, you can breathe a sigh of relief. While you are unable to work, you’ll still be able to support yourself. But you may not be aware of what areas will be covered by your benefits. Read on to learn more about what you can expect to receive when you begin collecting workers’ compensation.
Replacing Your Income
The amount of compensation you will be able to receive will depend on the severity of your injuries and your weekly income before being injured. Injuries are classified into six different categories:
- Temporary Total Disability – These benefits are available for injuries lasting at least four days. The injured employee will receive up to 80 percent of his or her income, but not more than the weekly maximum of $1,500, until he or she is able to return to work or find other reasonable employment.
- Temporary Partial Disability – If an injured employee is in recovery but able to work at a lesser-paying position, he or she will be able to obtain up to 66 percent of the difference in income until he or she is able to return to the pre-injury position.
- Healing Period – Here, any worker who is permanently disabled due to a work injury or illness will receive 80 percent of his or her income from the date of the accident, until he or she is able to return to work, receives a permanent diagnosis, or finds gainful employment.
- Permanent Partial Disability – This is available to injured employees who were permanently disabled but will still be able to work. They will collect up to 80 percent of their prior weekly income, without exceeding the $1,500 limit, from the day the healing period benefits end until they reach the allotted number of weeks based on Iowa guidelines.
- Permanent Total Disability – When an injured employee is left permanently disabled and no longer able to work any type of job, he or she can receive 80 percent of his or her pre-injury income, no more than the maximum of $1,500, for as long as he or she is considered permanently disabled.
- Death – These benefits are available to spouses or dependent children from the date of the victim’s death until the spouse remarries, or for life, and until the dependent children reach eighteen years of age. The amount will be up to 80 percent of the deceased’s weekly income, not exceeding $1,500 per week.
Classifying your injury can be a complex process, which is why it is important to include all relevant medical information in your initial claim for Iowa workers’ compensation benefits.
Coverage of Your Medical Costs
Workers’ comp will supplement your lost income, but it will also cover medical expenses incurred as a result of your injuries. These expenses include but are not limited to the following:
- Copays
- Hospital bills
- Occupational or physical therapy
- Medical equipment
- Adjustments to your home to accommodate medical equipment
- Prescription medications
- Transportation costs to and from doctor visits
Your employer will have designated a doctor to treat your injuries. In the event that you disagree with the diagnosis of the employer-provided physician, you may obtain a second examination.
The Workers’ Comp Benefits You’ll Receive in Iowa
Once you are approved for workers’ compensation benefits in Iowa, you will be able to receive income to supplement your lost wages while you recover. State law will allow a maximum of 80% of your weekly earnings, not to exceed approximately $1,500.
The severity of your injury and the length of time you will need to be out of work will also have an impact on the amount you will receive. For example, someone with a broken arm may be off work for weeks to heal, but healing is a possibility. A person with a permanent traumatic brain injury, however, may never be able to return to their previous position.
The medical expenses that result from your work injury should be taken care of by the insurer. This should include transportation costs to and from treatment, prescription medications, hospital bills, surgeries, and rehabilitative services, among various other healthcare costs.
To make your recovery a little easier, if your claim is currently in dispute, your medical provider cannot bill you for your treatment and recovery until the status of your claim becomes final.
Why Choose Pothitakis Law Firm?
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Top-Rated by Injured Workers Across IowaOur clients trust us — and their reviews show it. We’re proud to be recognized for our dedication, compassion, and the real results we’ve delivered to injured workers just like you.
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Free, Flexible Consultations – Your Schedule, Your Terms
Whether you prefer to meet in person, over the phone, or virtually, we make it easy for you to get trusted legal help — wherever and however you need it.
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We Know the Insurance Company's PlaybookOur team understands how insurance companies operate — and we use that knowledge to build stronger, smarter strategies that protect your rights and maximize your benefits.
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Work Injury Law Is All We DoWith over 25 years of focused experience, our firm handles only workers' compensation and work injury cases. This level of specialization allows us to navigate every case with unmatched precision and expertise.
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You Don’t Pay Unless We Win
We represent our clients on a contingency fee basis, which means there’s no upfront cost. If we don’t win your case, you don’t owe us anything — it’s that simple.
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Over $140 Million Recovered for Injured WorkersWe have a long-standing track record of success, securing over $140 million in benefits and settlements for our clients. Our results reflect our relentless commitment to fighting for the compensation injured workers deserve.
See Our Success Stories
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$1 Million Workers Slip and Fall
After hearing, the Deputy Workers’ Compensation Commissioner entered an award fully in favor of the Claimant finding him permanently and totally disabled. The Decision resulted in an award with the present value of in excess of $1 million. In addition, the Defendants were ordered to pay the Claimant’s medical expenses for the remainder of his life.
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$450,000 Partial Commutation
In 2013, our client was a truck driver who was fatally injured in a tragic auto accident. He was married at the time and as a result his wife was entitled to Workers’ Compensation benefits. Those benefits would end upon her death or shortly after she were to remarry. The surviving spouse was finding it difficult to live on the weekly Workers’ Compensation benefits and for other reasons wanted to have the money paid in a lump sum.
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Workers’ Comp Appeal Results in Settlement
Pothitakis Law Firm pursued this claim for in excess of three and a half years. Mr. Pothitakis conferenced with the claimant’s doctors and obtained reports over those years to put the claimant in the best position to obtain a favorable result at hearing. When the initial decision was inappropriate, Pothitakis Law Firm filed an appeal and was successful on that appeal.