Unexpectedly losing a loved one is never easy, but it can be especially difficult when your loved one was your family’s primary financial supporter. Simply surviving often becomes a priority, which makes it difficult to fully grieve or come to terms with the death. What you may not realize is that you probably qualify for benefits if he or she died in a work-related accident. Depending on death benefits through the workers’ compensation system is often key for New Jersey families facing such circumstances who are struggling to maintain their financial security.
Death benefits are weekly payments worth 70% of your loved one’s gross weekly wage. There are limits though, so it is important that you speak with someone about your unique situation. You may also be interested to know that the employer could be responsible for paying as much as $3,500 for funeral expenses.
In New Jersey, these benefits are generally available for the victim’s spouse and children who were part of his or her household at the time of death. Your children can receive benefits through age 18 unless they are full time students, in which case they can keep getting benefits until 23. Benefits are not totally limited to spouses and children, though, and parents, siblings and even grandparents are sometimes entitled to death benefits.
A lack of financial security can make every other aspect of life far more difficult. Unfortunately, you are now all too familiar with this. For more information about securing dependency or death benefits, be sure to visit our workers’ compensation website.