Benefits are no-fault — paid once an injury or illness is assumed work-related, usually after the employer files a claim form, without the judicial or punitive awards common in civil cases. If the employer disputes whether a claim is valid or work-related, a hearing before a workers’ compensation law judge can settle it.

Benefits vary by state but generally don’t exceed two-thirds of lost income, and most states cap how long payments last. Each state runs a Workers’ Compensation Board to oversee and enforce the system.