Workers’ compensation is intended to offer financial support to employees who experience injuries or illnesses as a result of their jobs. While physical injuries are often straightforward to identify and treat, mental health conditions pose unique challenges in the context of workers’ compensation claims.
The approach to mental health coverage under Florida workers’ compensation is delicate and subject to specific legal criteria. Exploring this complex relationship between mental health and workers’ compensation can shed more light on what is covered, what isn’t and why it matters.
What the law says
Under Florida law, mental health conditions are covered under workers’ compensation, but there are stringent requirements that must be met. Specifically, mental health injuries, often referred to as “mental-mental” claims, must be connected to a physical injury. For example, suppose an employee experiences severe emotional distress as a direct result of a physical injury sustained at work. In that case, they might qualify for mental health benefits under workers’ compensation.
However, the state law is less accommodating for claims involving purely psychological injuries that are not connected to a physical injury. These are known as “stand-alone” mental health claims. For instance, if an employee has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to witnessing a traumatic event at work but did not suffer any physical harm, they may face significant challenges in receiving workers’ compensation benefits.
PTSD and first responders
An important exception to the general rule is the coverage provided to first responders under the Sunshine State law. Because of the demanding nature of their jobs, first responders are frequently exposed to traumatic situations that can result in psychological conditions such as PTSD.
In 2018, the Sunshine State passed legislation that allows first responders to receive workers’ compensation benefits for PTSD without the need for a physical injury. This was a boost in recognizing the unique risks first responders face. For other employees, however, the standard remains that a physical injury must accompany the mental health claim to be valid under workers’ compensation.
While mental health is covered under the state’s workers’ compensation laws, the coverage is typically contingent on the presence of a physical injury. The exception for first responders reflects an understanding of their unique psychological risks that these workers face. Still, other workers may find it challenging to receive benefits for stand-alone mental health issues. Employees facing such challenges should, therefore, seek reliable legal guidance. In doing so, they can more easily navigate the complex workers’ compensation system to help ensure their legal rights are safeguarded.