Your Vermont Workers’ Comp Check Just Stopped. Now What?

You were counting on that workers’ compensation payment, and then it did not show up. Maybe a letter arrived saying your benefits were being discontinued, or maybe the money simply stopped with no explanation at all. Either way, it is unsettling, especially if you are still recovering and unable to work. So what actually happens when Vermont workers’ comp benefits get cut off, and what can you do about it?

Why Do Workers’ Comp Benefits Get Cut Off?

There are a handful of common reasons an insurance carrier might discontinue payments. Maybe an independent medical exam concluded you are able to return to work. Maybe your doctor released you to light duty and your employer says a suitable position is available. Sometimes the carrier argues your condition is no longer related to the original injury, or that you missed an appointment or failed to provide requested medical records. Not every reason holds up, though, which is exactly why the process is supposed to follow specific rules.

The Law Requires Notice Before Benefits Can Stop

Vermont law does not allow an insurance carrier to simply shut off your benefits without warning. Under 21 V.S.A. § 643a, unless you have successfully returned to work, the employer or carrier must file a notice of intention to discontinue payments with both the Commissioner of Labor and you, the injured worker. That notice has to include the proposed date of discontinuance, the reasons behind it, and any supporting evidence. Your benefits are required to continue for at least seven days after that notice is received, and the Commissioner reviews the file to decide whether the evidence actually supports stopping payments. If it does not, payments are ordered to continue until a hearing is held.

What to Do If Your Benefits Are Cut Off

If your payments stop or you receive a discontinuance notice, a few steps can help protect your claim:

• Read the notice carefully and note the stated reason and proposed effective date.
• Contact your treating doctor to make sure your medical records reflect your current condition and work restrictions.
• Keep copies of every letter, form, and payment record related to your claim.
• Reach out to the Vermont Department of Labor’s Workers’ Compensation Division if you have questions about the notice or the review process.
• Consider getting a second opinion if a carrier-ordered exam is the basis for the discontinuance.

Acting quickly matters. The review process moves fast, and gaps in your medical documentation can make it harder to get benefits reinstated later.

Contact Our Team for Help

Losing your workers’ comp check while you are still hurt can feel like the system is working against you, but Vermont law gives injured workers real protections and a real process to challenge an improper discontinuance. Understanding your rights and responding promptly can make a meaningful difference in whether your benefits get reinstated.

If your workers’ compensation benefits were cut off and you are not sure why, our Vermont workers’ compensation benefits attorneys at Sluka Law PLC are ready to help. Reach out to us today for help.

Source:

legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/21/009/00643A