Once a claim is underway, the central questions often shift from initial reporting to benefit calculations, medical restrictions, offered work, dispute procedure, vocational activity, and settlement. These answers organize those later-stage issues without assuming that every claim follows the same path.

Part Two addresses benefits and disputes after the claim is underway: wage loss, work restrictions, return attempts, forms, mediation, hearing, vocational issues, and settlement.

What wage-loss benefits may be at issue?

G.S. 97-29 addresses total incapacity compensation, and G.S. 97-30 addresses partial incapacity. Eligibility and duration depend on the statute, medical and vocational evidence, work capacity, earnings, agreements, orders, and claim-specific facts.

How should I check the compensation rate?

Preserve the wage calculation, pay periods, regular wages, overtime, bonuses, allowances, concurrent employment facts, days worked, and any alternative method. Reconcile each benefit check by covered week, gross amount, deductions, credits, suspension, and correction rather than comparing only monthly totals.

What if the doctor gives work restrictions?

Obtain the written restriction and identify its duration, functional limits, appointment basis, and follow-up. Compare it with the actual job’s lifting, posture, repetition, pace, travel, schedule, environmental exposure, equipment, and safety demands. Record clarification and changes through the medical process.

What should I do with a job offer?

Request the title, duties, physical demands, location, schedule, pay, duration, start date, supervision, training, and accommodations in writing. Compare those facts with current restrictions. Preserve the offer, questions, responses, provider review, acceptance or refusal, and actual work experience.

What is a trial return to work?

G.S. 97-32.1 addresses a trial return to work and the conditions identified there. Track the start date, hours, duties, wages, symptoms, treatment, restrictions, absences, modifications, and why the attempt continued or ended.

Can benefits change or stop?

A change may depend on an agreement, form, statutory process, Commission order, return to work, medical evidence, refusal issue, or other circumstance. Obtain the exact document and effective date. Do not rely on a phone summary when a filing, consent, response, or hearing right may be involved.

How is a disputed issue presented to the Commission?

The Industrial Commission forms page identifies current forms for hearing requests, responses, medical motions, agreements, reviews, and other procedures. The correct path depends on the precise issue and posture. Keep filed copies, service records, deadlines, orders, and the evidence tied to each issue.

What happens at mediation?

The parties identify disputed issues, exchange necessary information, evaluate risk, and may discuss resolution with a mediator. Prepare an issue list, medical and wage chronology, benefit ledger, future-care questions, liens or repayment interests, expenses, and settlement terms. Mediation does not require agreement.

What happens at a hearing?

A deputy commissioner receives the evidentiary record under the applicable procedure. Preparation can include pleadings, stipulated records, exhibits, witnesses, medical depositions, objections, legal issues, and requested relief. The related workers’ compensation hearing guide explains issue definition, proof charts, records, witnesses, and the decision record.

What are vocational rehabilitation issues?

Record the assigned professional, referral, assessment, plan, restrictions, transferable skills, labor-market data, job leads, applications, interviews, offers, travel, communications, participation, and supported objections. Distinguish rehabilitation services from a medical opinion and from a final legal determination of disability.

What should a settlement review include?

  • Every claim, body area, condition, benefit, employer, carrier, and time period released
  • Future medical care, prescriptions, equipment, travel, wage rights, and work status
  • Liens, credits, repayment interests, fees, expenses, taxes, and estimated net distribution
  • Resignation, confidentiality, non-disparagement, references, payment timing, and enforcement
  • Alternatives, remaining evidence, uncertainty, and rights that cannot be reopened after approval

Can a decision be reviewed or appealed?

Review paths have specific documents and time limits. Preserve the filed request, decision date, service date, transcript and exhibit record, assigned errors, briefing schedule, and order. A disagreement with the outcome should be converted into a record-based legal issue, not a new factual narrative.

Rosensteel Fleishman Car Accident & Injury Lawyers provides information about workers’ compensation benefits and disputes in North Carolina.

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