Connecticut first responders place their lives in jeopardy to help others. Part of that is knowing they can be injured on the job, face medical expenses and lost time at work. While workers’ compensation benefits are available to help them when they are recuperating and grant them coverage for medical care and wage loss if they are unable to return to work at all, there are some aspects of their work that are not covered under the law.
For those who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder from their work as emergency responders, a new law to cover them in these instances is getting closer to passage. The state senate passed a law that will give one year of coverage for PTSD suffered by first responders. This comes after those who supported this expansion first started their campaign in 2012.
The agreement was achieved via a negotiation between the union of firefighters and law enforcement and the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities. To get the benefits, PTSD must be diagnosed by a psychiatrist or a psychologist. There are six qualifying events that must occur for the first responder to be given benefits under this new addition to workers’ compensation law. However, it is important to remember that the benefits will not be permanent.
First responders can face physical injuries that can lead to long-term problems and even death. The mental aspect of the job has not been given the amount of attention it deserves. PTSD is a very real concern and those who suffer from it after doing their job could be severely impacted by it. Understanding how PTSD will be handled in the future is a critical part of workers’ compensation law. Those who need assistance with their claim in any context should call a law firm experienced in these cases.
