Do I Qualify for Workers’ Compensation?

For most people, workers’ compensation is dictated by your state’s laws. Workers’ compensation is a benefit provided to cover any work-related injuries you sustain. This benefit paid for by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance plan. However, not all employees are covered. Exclusions vary state-to-state, but in general, the following types of workers are not covered:

• Business owners
• Independent contractors
• Casual workers
• Domestic employees in private homes
• Farmworkers
• Maritime workers
• Railroad employees
• Unpaid volunteers

Federal workers are also excluded from the states’ defined compensation coverage and are covered separately by a federal law.