Law on Workers' Compensation in Canton, MS

If the individual is working for a company that has five or more employees, it falls within Mississippi Workmen’s Compensation guidelines. The employee is eligible for coverage as soon as they begin employment. If an employee receives a work-related injury, then the employee is immediately entitled to benefits under the law, including but not limited to temporary wages and medical treatment.

Although most Mississippians are protected by the Workers’ Compensation Law, there are exceptions. An employer with less than five employees is not mandated to provide workers’ compensation coverage. Domestic and farm labor, and employees of non-profit fraternal, charitable, religious or cultural organizations are not covered under the law unless coverage is provided voluntarily by the employer.

Medical and wage loss benefits are two basic benefits that an injured worker may receive.

Medical impairment and loss of wage earning capacity compensation are also available.

Dependents of a worker—usually a spouse, children, or other family members—who is killed on the job or die as a result of a work injury or illness are almost always eligible to collect workers’ compensation benefits. Even if an employee is found dead in the workplace, no one witnessed the death, and no cause of death is obvious, the death is usually covered by workers’ compensation.

The worker should immediately report the injury or illness to their supervisor or employer. That employer is then responsible for filing a report with the Workers’ Compensation Commission. Once a claim is reported and verified, the injured or ill employee is entitled to receive immediate medical care, services and related expenses that are covered by the Compensation Commission and the employer's insurance carrier.