Workers' compensation in Pennsylvania: the effects of delayed contested cases.
This study examines the effects of delayed workers' compensation cases in the Pennsylvania system. Forty-five claimants of a workers' compensation support group responded to interviews. Delay periods averaged two years with a 68.4% drop in income. Results indicate that claimants endured financial and emotional stress, exhausted personal assets, relied on assistance from relatives, and received public assistance. Implications for social work practice include educating workers about benefits, counseling claimants with delayed claims, and advocating for administrative reforms.
Department of Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology, Utah State University, Logan 84322.
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Dawson
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D017281:Cost of Illness; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010414:Pennsylvania; D012935:Social Justice; D012947:Social Work; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013996:Time and Motion Studies; D044465:White People; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data