[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.marksandharrison.com\/blog\/how-long-can-you-receive-workers-compensation-benefits-in-virginia\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.marksandharrison.com\/blog\/how-long-can-you-receive-workers-compensation-benefits-in-virginia\/","headline":"How Long Can You Receive Workers\u2019 Compensation Benefits in Virginia?","name":"How Long Can You Receive Workers\u2019 Compensation Benefits in Virginia?","description":"Generally, the maximum time that you can receive workers\u2019 compensation benefits in Virginia is 500 weeks. There are exceptions to this limit, such as if you suffered a severe injury such as a spinal cord injury, brain injury, or amputation of multiple limbs.\u00a0 The amount of time that you can receive workers\u2019 compensation benefits in […]","datePublished":"2021-01-05","dateModified":"2026-04-21","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.marksandharrison.com\/blog\/author\/marksandharrison\/#Person","name":"Marks & Harrison","url":"https:\/\/www.marksandharrison.com\/blog\/author\/marksandharrison\/","identifier":7,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5f19b40a73ab49e8af765493aafa8c5651a274c64ede1000eb57bb6a971fb6c8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5f19b40a73ab49e8af765493aafa8c5651a274c64ede1000eb57bb6a971fb6c8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Marks & Harrison","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.marksandharrison.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/logo.png","url":"https:\/\/www.marksandharrison.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/logo.png","width":235,"height":87}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.marksandharrison.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/injured-man-filing-workers-compensation.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.marksandharrison.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/injured-man-filing-workers-compensation.jpg","height":667,"width":1000},"url":"https:\/\/www.marksandharrison.com\/blog\/how-long-can-you-receive-workers-compensation-benefits-in-virginia\/","about":["Workers' Compensation"],"wordCount":1359,"articleBody":"Generally, the maximum time that you can receive workers\u2019 compensation benefits in Virginia is 500 weeks. There are exceptions to this limit, such as if you suffered a severe injury such as a spinal cord injury, brain injury, or amputation of multiple limbs.\u00a0The amount of time that you can receive workers\u2019 compensation benefits in Virginia depends on the type of benefits you receive, as follows:Temporary partial disability \u2013 You will continue to receive the difference between what you earned before the injury and what you can earn with the injury until your treating physician releases you to full duty.Temporary total disability \u2013 If you are receiving temporary total disability benefits, you will continue to receive these benefits until your treating physician releases you to full duty.Permanent partial disability \u2013 The length of time that you will receive permanent partial disability benefits depends on the impairment rating that your treating physician assigns to you once you have reached the maximum level of medical improvement.Permanent total disability \u2013 If the work injury causes you a permanent loss of use of a body part, you will receive permanent total disability benefits based on the specific time provided under the Virginia Workers\u2019 Compensation Act. Examples of permanent total disability benefit periods include:Thumb \u2013 60 weeksHand \u2013 150 weeksLeg \u2013 175 weeksEye \u2013 100 weeksThird stage pneumoconiosis \u2013 300 weeksSome injuries entitle an injured worker to benefits for their lifetime, such as losing both hands, feet, legs, arms, or eyes or an injury resulting in total paralysis.If you\u2019re injured on the job in Virginia, your workers\u2019 compensation benefits are an important lifeline as you seek treatment and try to get back to normal. Having your benefits run out can put your whole financial future in jeopardy. This raises an important question for anyone seeking workers\u2019 compensation benefits in Virginia: Just how long do those benefits last?Unfortunately, there\u2019s no simple answer to that question. There are complicated formulas for determining the length and amount of workers\u2019 compensation benefits you receive. Depending on the extent of your injuries, you could receive benefits for a few weeks, months, years, or the rest of your life.To understand the full benefits to which you are entitled after an on-the-job injury, speak to a workers\u2019 compensation attorney at Marks & Harrison today. Our highly trained and knowledgeable workers\u2019 comp lawyers will make sure you are pursuing the full benefits you need. Contact us now for your free consultation.How Do You Receive Workers\u2019 Compensation Benefits in Virginia?Filing the correct paperwork and following the proper steps are essential when pursuing workers\u2019 compensation benefits. Here\u2019s what to do if you are hurt on the job:Notify your employer of your injury. Virginia law requires that injured workers notify their employers within 30 days of the injury. You should submit your notice in writing. We recommend submitting this report as soon as possible, as the initial report to your employer is what kicks off the workers\u2019 comp claims process.File a workers\u2019 comp claim form. Your next step is to fill out a workers\u2019 compensation claim form and submit it to the Virginia Workers\u2019 Compensation Commission. Once you\u2019ve made your initial report to your employer and filled out a claim form, your employer will submit its own report to the Workers\u2019 Compensation Commission, as well as a separate report to the workers\u2019 compensation insurance carrier.Communicate with the insurer. After your employer has submitted its reports, you\u2019ll likely get a call from your employer\u2019s workers\u2019 comp insurer. The insurer will ask you to make a statement about your injury and the circumstances surrounding it. We strongly advise speaking to an attorney before making any statement to an insurance company, as the insurer may try to use your statement to deny your claim or minimize payments.The insurer makes its decision. Once the Workers\u2019 Compensation Commission has received your claim form, the commission will notify your employer\u2019s workers\u2019 comp insurer that it has 20 days to make a judgment on your claim. If your claim is accepted, you\u2019ll get the necessary paperwork to start receiving your benefits, and the commission will draw up an Award Order confirming those benefits. If your claim is denied, the commission can set a date for an appeal hearing where you and the insurer can present additional evidence.Contact our Richmond Workers’ Compensation Attorney today.Are There Different Types of Workers\u2019 Compensation?There are different workers\u2019 compensation benefits depending on the extent of your injuries. The different benefits include:Temporary partial disability \u2013 This is the basic level of workers\u2019 compensation benefits. It covers workers whose injuries allow for light-duty or part-time work. In this case, the injured worker will receive two-thirds of the difference between his or her former average weekly wage and the new light-work wage.Temporary total disability \u2013 In some cases, a worker may be injured so severely that he or she cannot work at all for a period of time, even if that period is temporary. These workers might qualify for temporary total disability benefits. The worker will be paid two-thirds of his or her average weekly wage earned prior to the injury, up to the maximum state average weekly wage.Permanent partial disability \u2013 If a worker sustains permanent injuries that prevent him or her from working at the pre-injury level, the person may qualify for permanent partial disability benefits. In this case, a doctor must certify that the worker has reached the maximum level of medical improvement after an injury, and the doctor must assign an impairment rating. That rating is based on what body parts were injured and will determine what benefits the worker gets, as well as for how long.Permanent total disability \u2013 In extreme cases, a worker may be so severely injured on the job that he or she cannot work at all ever again. In this case, the worker may be eligible for permanent total disability benefits.It is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible if you are injured on the job. An attorney from our firm can help you evaluate your options and demand the full benefits you are entitled to receive.Is There a Limit to the Amount of Money You Can Receive from Workers\u2019 Compensation in VA?Except in cases of permanent total disability, injured workers are generally entitled to a maximum of 500 weeks of workers\u2019 compensation benefits. There are some exceptions to this limit, and a workers\u2019 comp attorney can give you more detailed information as it pertains to your case.Can You Work While Receiving Workers\u2019 Comp?If your doctor has approved you for light duty, you may be able to receive workers\u2019 comp benefits while working. Otherwise, going back to work generally precludes you from receiving additional benefits.Is There a Time Limit on Workers\u2019 Compensation in Virginia?You have 30 days from the date of your injury to report the injury to your employer and the Workers\u2019 Compensation Commission. Virginia also has a statute of limitations on workers\u2019 compensation claims, which limits the time you have to file a claim to two years from the date of the injury.It is important that you take action quickly to preserve your legal right to benefits. Contact an attorney as soon as possible to get started.Can You Reapply for Workers\u2019 Compensation If You Have Reached Your Limit?If you reach your 500-week maximum for workers\u2019 comp benefits and you\u2019re still suffering from your injury, you may be able to apply for permanent total disability benefits. However, these benefits can be difficult to obtain. So you\u2019ll need to consult with an experienced workers\u2019 compensation attorney to decide the best strategy for your case.Talk to a Workers\u2019 Comp Lawyer NowIf you\u2019ve been injured on the job, don\u2019t wait to start the workers\u2019 compensation process. Your medical bills and other expenses are piling up, and you need those benefits as soon as you can get them. To protect your right to maximum benefits, talk to one of the Virginia workers\u2019 compensation attorneys at Marks & Harrison. Contact us now for your free consultation."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.marksandharrison.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How Long Can You Receive Workers\u2019 Compensation Benefits in Virginia?","item":"https:\/\/www.marksandharrison.com\/blog\/how-long-can-you-receive-workers-compensation-benefits-in-virginia\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]