Worker Frequently Asked Questions

If an employee is injured by accident or occupational disease arising out of and in the course of their employment, they may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ compensation insurance covers the risk of an employee getting injured on the job. Workers’ compensation is different and separate from unemployment compensation, Social Security disability benefits, health and accident insurance, or other disability benefit plans provided by the employer.

The Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Act (the Act) is found at Section (§) 48-101 to § 48-1,118 of the Nebraska Revised Statutes (laws, written as “NEB. REV. STAT.”). It provides the only avenue for employees to obtain benefits from their employer for their work-related injuries.

The Act applies to most employees. It does not apply to independent contractors. Most Nebraska employers are required to have workers’ compensation insurance to make sure coverage is in place if employees are injured while working. Exceptions, such as for federal employers, can be found in NEB. REV. STAT. § 48-106. 

An injured employee who is covered by the Act may obtain benefits:

• if the injury was caused by an accident or disease that arose out of and in the course of their employment and the injury occurred in Nebraska,

• the employer was performing work in Nebraska or the employment is in Nebraska, or

• the employee was hired in Nebraska and the employer is doing business or performing work in Nebraska, whether or not the injury occurred in Nebraska.

If an employee dies as a result of a work-related injury, the employee’s dependents may be entitled to benefits under the Act.

A. Medical Benefits

The employer / insurer is liable to pay for all reasonable medical and hospital services, appliances, prescribed drugs, prosthetic devices, and other supplies along with mileage that are necessary as the result of a work-related injury. Medical benefits may include reasonable travel expenses in some situations. The mileage rates for allowable travel are listed in the Tables of Maximum/Minimum Compensation Benefits, Burial Benefits, and Mileage Reimbursement Rates on the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court (court) website. 

Choice of doctor. The employer must notify the employee that the employee has the right to choose a physician they or their family have seen as their primary treating physician. If the employee does not choose a physician, the employer may select the physician. More information about Choosing a Doctor for a Work-Related Injury can be found on the court’s website.

An employer / insurer may also ask an injured employee to be examined by a doctor chosen by the employer / insurer at the company’s expense.

The employee should promptly submit expenses for medical care to their employer or to the insurer for payment.

B. Indemnity Benefits

“Indemnity benefits” (also called “disability benefits”) may be paid when an employee misses time from work or suffers permanent effects after a work-related injury. Employees may be entitled to temporary and / or permanent disability benefits.

1. Temporary Disability Benefits

Temporary disability benefits may be for either:

(a) total disability, or

(b) partial disability.

Temporary Total Disability Benefits. An employee may be entitled to temporary total disability benefits for as long as they are unable to work as a result of their injury. The weekly benefit rate for temporary total disability is subject to the maximum and minimum benefit rate per week. More information can be found in the Tables of Maximum / Minimum Compensation Benefits, Burial Benefits, and Mileage Reimbursement Rates on the court’s website. 

Temporary Partial Disability Benefits. Benefits are paid when the employee is able to return to work but under limited circumstances such as for a few hours a day or at a job which pays less than the job held at the time of the injury. The weekly benefit rate for temporary partial disability benefits is subject to the maximum benefit rate per week.  More information can be found in the Tables of Maximum / Minimum Compensation Benefits, Burial Benefits, and Mileage Reimbursement Rates on the court’s website.

Temporary disability benefits usually end when an employee has reached maximum medical improvement or has been released from medical care. 

An employee is entitled to temporary disability benefits while participating in an approved vocational rehabilitation plan.

2. Permanent Disability Benefits

Permanent disability benefits may be either:

(a) permanent partial or permanent total disability of certain body parts listed in the Act (“scheduled” injuries) or,

(b) permanent partial or permanent total disability to the body as a whole.

Permanent Partial Disability for Loss of a Scheduled Body Part. Benefits are paid for the loss or loss of use of a body part such as a leg or hand based upon the value the Act assigns to various body parts. 

Permanent Total Disability for Loss of Multiple Scheduled Body Parts. The total loss or total loss of use of two scheduled body parts in one accident is considered permanent total disability.

Permanent Partial Disability to the Body as a Whole. Benefits are paid for permanent disability resulting from a body as a whole injury, such as neck, back, or head. Generally, if the injured body part isn’t included in the schedule of body parts, the injury is considered to be to the body as a whole. Typically, compensation for permanent partial disability to the body as a whole is compensated on the basis of loss of earning capacity. More information about Loss of Earning Power Evaluations in Nebraska can be found on the court’s website. 

Permanent Partial Disability for Loss of Scheduled Body Parts. When an employee has an injury to more than one scheduled body part, they may request that compensation be determined based on loss of earning capacity. 

Permanent Total Disability Benefits. If an employee is permanently unable to return to the workforce as a result of their injuries, permanent total disability (PTD) benefits may be due. 

3. Death Benefits

If the injury results in the death of the employee, the surviving spouse and other actual dependents may be entitled to death benefits. Additionally, burial expenses may be paid. 

C. Return-to-Work Services (also known as Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits)

An employee may be eligible for return-to-work services (vocational rehabilitation benefits), such as job placement with the same or a new employer or formal training. Temporary disability benefits are paid while an employee is participating in a court-approved job placement or formal training plan.

These services are voluntary and, if not offered by the employer / insurer, the employee can request vocational rehabilitation services. An employee can contact their employer, the claims representative of their employer's insurer, or the court’s Vocational Rehabilitation section to request return to work services. If it is determined that the employee will need vocational rehabilitation services, a court-certified vocational rehabilitation counselor can submit a plan of vocational rehabilitation services to the court for approval.

More information about return-to-work services can be found on the court’s website.

Indemnity (wage replacement) benefits begin on the eighth calendar day of disability, after a seven-day waiting period. If disability (either temporary or permanent) continues for six weeks or longer, then benefits are payable for the waiting period. See NEB. REV. STAT. § 48-119. In that situation, benefits for the waiting week are paid after six weeks elapse after the accident.

Medical benefits may begin on the date of the work injury. 

Return-to-work (vocational rehabilitation) benefits may begin when the employee has permanent impairment or restrictions and is unable to perform suitable work within their training and experience.

An employee should notify their employer of any work-related injury or occupational disease as soon as possible. After a work-related injury, the employee also should seek treatment for urgent medical issues and inform their treating physician that it is a work-related injury.

Yes. This information can be obtained by contacting the employer or the court. Insurance companies are required to report to the court each policy of workers’ compensation insurance they issue. A small number of Nebraska employers are self-insured for workers’ compensation.

You can find an employer’s workers’ compensation insurance coverage using the Coverage Lookup app on the court’s website. The court’s website also has a list of Self-Insured Employers.

Compensation payments for lost wages (indemnity) and medical expenses are typically paid within 30 days after notice of the injury. However, payment of benefits might be delayed if liability for the claim is disputed.

A 50 percent penalty may be added to indemnity benefits for waiting time if payment is not made within 30 days of the notice of injury or impairment. The 50 percent penalty is due if there is no reasonable dispute regarding the employee’s claim for workers’ compensation benefits. Waiting-time penalties may also apply when there is a failure to pay compensation after 30 days from the entry of a final order, award or judgment of the court.

After the employee has been released from medical treatment and has been placed at maximum medical improvement, permanent benefits may be payable. The employer / insurer may offer payment in a one-time lump sum or pay weekly benefits.

• Contact the Employer / Insurer. The employee or their attorney may contact the employer / insurer to discuss the benefits that may be due. You can find the insurer’s phone number by using the Coverage Lookup app on the court’s website or by calling the court’s information line (800-599-5155 or 402-471-6468). 

• Request Informal Dispute Resolution (mediation). Any person involved in a workers’ compensation claim may request informal dispute resolution (mediation) to help settle an issue or an entire case without the need for a formal hearing. This service is free of charge. To request informal dispute resolution, call the court’s information line (800-599-5155 or 402-471-6468) and ask to speak with the mediation coordinator or complete the Informal Dispute Resolution Request Form on the court’s website. More information about Informal Dispute Resolution and Mediation can be found on the court’s website.

• Request an Independent Medical Exam. The court’s Independent Medical Examiner process may provide a way to get unbiased answers to questions about an employee’s medical condition or related issues when there is a disagreement. More information about Independent Medical Exams can be found on the court’s website.

• File a Petition. The employee or their attorney may file a petition (lawsuit) with the court. Petition forms can be found on the court’s website or obtained from the Clerk of the Court. Employees representing themselves in court are held to the same standards, laws, and rules as attorneys.

You are not required to have an attorney. It is up to you to decide if you want to hire an attorney. If you decide to hire an attorney, you will have to make those arrangements. The court does not provide or recommend attorneys. If you represent yourself, you will be required to follow all court rules, statutes, and procedures.

Your employer cannot make you get treatment from another doctor. However, your employer or their insurance company can ask you to see another doctor of their choice for an examination. This doctor will not start treating you; it will just be an examination. If you unreasonably refuse to submit to the examination, you may not get benefit payments for the time you refuse to be seen. You may be asked to see more than one doctor for other examinations.

If the doctor has been chosen AFTER your employer told you of your rights, you can’t change doctors unless your employer agrees or the court orders a change. If you want to change, talk to your employer about the reasons. If your employer agrees, you may change doctors.

If the doctor has been chosen AFTER your employer told you of your rights, you can’t be made to change your doctor unless you agree or unless the court orders you to change.

If you have a medical emergency, see any doctor as soon as you can. The rules about choosing a doctor don’t apply until after the emergency is over. If you need more treatment, the rules to choose or change your doctor will apply.

You can still choose a doctor, but it must be one who has treated you or a family member before your injury. Your doctor must agree to the rules of your employer’s managed care plan. If you don’t have a doctor, you may choose among the doctors signed up with your employer's managed care plan.

You can ask for Informal Dispute Resolution (IDR), also known as mediation, from the court. Before you ask for mediation, you must first try to get your employer to agree to your request to change doctors. If this doesn’t work, you or your employer can ask for help through the court’s mediation process. A court staff member will try to help you and your employer come to an agreement. If mediation doesn’t work, you have the option to file a motion or petition (lawsuit) with the court for a judge to decide the matter. More information about the IDR process and other dispute resolution options is available on our website.

You may choose ANY doctor to treat you.

The goal of return-to-work services is to help you get back to work after your injury. If you are unable to return to the type of work you were doing, you may be entitled to return-to-work services.

A vocational counselor will be involved in providing return-to-work services. You will be asked to take an active role in meetings, evaluations, and putting together a return-to-work plan (RTW plan). A vocational counselor will talk to you about your prior jobs, schooling, work restrictions, and the type of work you would like to do. Based on this information, the vocational counselor will recommend a RTW plan. This RTW plan may provide help finding a new job, training to do a new type of work, or schooling that would lead to a new job. The vocational counselor will submit the RTW plan to the vocational section of the court for approval.

If the RTW plan is approved by the court and employer / insurer, your weekly benefits and medical expenses are paid by the employer / insurer. Expenses for mileage, transportation, tuition, school supplies, housing are paid by the court trust fund. Expenses paid from this fund require prior approval by the court. This fund does not cover things like child care expenses, internet services, or clothing.

If you do not agree with the RTW plan, you do not have to sign it:

• You can talk to the vocational counselor about changing the RTW plan.

• You can request voluntary mediation (also called IDR or Informal Dispute Resolution). A court mediator acts as a neutral third party to assist you and the employer in trying to resolve the dispute. However, the mediator is not a judge and does not issue an order at the end of the mediation.

• You or the employer / insurer can file a petition or motion with the court. If there is a trial, the judge will decide whether to approve the RTW plan.

If the employer / insurer does not agree with the RTW plan: The options are the same as above. The employee and employer / insurer can talk to each other, request mediation, or file documents with the court requesting the judge to decide whether to approve the RTW plan.

If you and the employer / insurer agree with the RTW plan, but it is not approved by the vocational section of the court: The options are the same as above. The employee, employer / insurer, and vocational counselor can talk to the vocational section of the court about why the RTW plan makes sense and is in your best interest, request mediation, or file documents with the court requesting the judge to decide whether to approve the RTW plan.

You may contact the court. If you want a copy of the injury report, select this link to request records from the court.

If a worker suspects the insurer is engaging in unfair claims practices, they may contact the Nebraska Department of Insurance with their questions or concerns.

• If you suspect a worker of submitting a fraudulent workers’ compensation claim, you may contact the employer’s workers’ compensation insurer. To look up the insurer, you may select this link to go to the court’s Nebraska Proof of Coverage Online Look-Up Application.

• If you suspect an employer of misclassifying the number or class of their employees to avoid paying premiums, you may contact the Insurance Fraud Prevention Division of the Nebraska Department of Insurance.

The Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Act (Act) applies to the State of Nebraska, to every governmental agency created by it, and to every employer in the state employing one or more employees in the regular trade, business, profession, or vocation of the employer. Thus, virtually all employees are covered by the Act, including employees of private industry, state and local government, part-time employees, minors, and employees of charitable organizations. However, employers are not required to provide coverage for independent contractors. At times, there is disagreement on whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. While the Act does not define “independent contractor,” case law provides several factors to consider when determining whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. This decision is made on a cases-by-case basis, and no single factor is determinitive. The Nebraska Supreme Court applies a 10-factor test when determining whether a worker is an independent contractor or an employee.

The status of agricultural operations under the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Act was changed by LB 210 from the 2003 session of the Nebraska Legislature. Employers engaged in an agricultural operation are exempt from providing workers’ compensation insurance coverage if they employ only related employees. Agricultural employers who employ unrelated employees are also exempt unless in a calendar year they employ 10 or more unrelated, full-time employees, on each working day for 13 calendar weeks (consecutive or not). The act applies to an employer 30 days after the 13th week.

An employer exempt from the act may elect to provide workers’ compensation coverage for its employees. Such election is made by the employer obtaining a workers’ compensation insurance policy from an insurer licensed to write workers’ compensation insurance in Nebraska.

Every exempt employer who does not elect to provide workers’ compensation insurance coverage must give all unrelated employees the following written notice at the time of hiring or at any time more than 30 calendar days prior to the time of injury: “In this employment you will not be covered by the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Act and you will not be compensated under the act if you are injured on the job or suffer an occupational disease. You should plan accordingly.” The notice must be signed by the unrelated employee and retained by the employer. Failure to provide this notice subjects an employer to liability under the act for any unrelated employee to whom such notice was not given.

The following definitions are included in LB210:

• Agricultural operation: The cultivation of land for the production of agricultural crops, fruit, or other horticultural products; or the ownership, keeping, or feeding of animals for the production of livestock or livestock products.

• Full-time employee: A person who is employed to work one-half or more of the regularly scheduled hours during each pay period.

• Related employee: A spouse of an employer and an employee related to the employer within the third degree by blood or marriage. This includes parents, grandparents, great grandparents, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, and spouses of the same.

Select the following link for further information: Agricultural Operations and Workers’ Compensation.

An employer may use the services of a managed care plan that has been certified by the court. However, an employer may not contract directly with a certified managed care plan unless the employer has been approved as a self-insurer by the court. Other employers may use the services of a certified managed care plan that has contracted with the employer’s workers’ compensation insurer or intergovernmental risk management pool. Only a plan that has been certified by the court may be used for workers’ compensation purposes in Nebraska. When a certified managed care plan is used, the employer must give full notice to each covered employee about how to receive services and the rights of the employee under the plan.

Second injury benefit payments are limited to injuries that occurred before December 1, 1997. To qualify for second injury benefits, an employee must have a prior serious disability documented by the employer through written records when the employee is hired or retained in the employment. If a subsequent injury produces a greater disability than that which would have resulted from the last injury alone, a special trust fund administered by the court will pay for the increased disability and the employer will pay only for the last injury.

Unless an employer is self-insured, it is not permitted to directly pay for medical treatment required under the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Act. In essence, this would be an attempt by the employer to self-insure its liability for such treatment without first being approved by the court for self insurance as required in the Act and rules of the court. In addition, the Nebraska legislature has addressed the issue of payment for small medical claims and specifically determined that payment must be made by the insurer, rather than the employer. This is included in 48-146.03, which provides for a medical deductible option for workers’ compensation insurance policies. That section first establishes such a deductible but then states that the insurer shall pay the entire cost of medical benefits for each claim irrespective of the deductible provision. The insurer is then to be reimbursed by the employer for any deductible amounts paid by the insurer.

Select the following link for further information: Payment of Medical Expenses.

To verify workers’ compensation insurance coverage, you may select this link to go to the court’s Nebraska Proof of Coverage Online Look-Up Application. Members of the public may search for workers’ compensation insurance information for a particular employer, on a particular date, through our website. This service is provided free of charge. If you cannot find the information you are looking for, you may contact the court directly from this search app.