How do I get a pension?

If your job injury is severe and you are over the age of 50, you should consider pursuing an L&I pension. A pension consists of monthly payments for the rest of your life. Your pension will pay at a rate of 60-75% of the wage you were receiving just prior to your injury. The percentage rate is calculated based on the total number of your dependents. The purpose of a pension is to replace your monthly working income. Once L&I approves your pension, your payments will begin shortly thereafter and continue for the rest of your life.

This is not an employer pension or retirement plan—these payments are solely paid as a result of your on-the-job injury.

Few people know about the L&I pensions offered by L&I. They can be very hard to get because of the great expense to L&I, or your employer (if your employer is self-insured). As a result, L&I and your self-insured employer will often fight very hard to prevent you from getting a pension.

To qualify for a pension, you are required to show that you suffer from a permanent, disabling injury that prevents you from working.

Winning a pension is a time-consuming process fraught with pitfalls. The pension process is riddled with red tape, bureaucracy, and many roadblocks designed to make you give up or agree to less compensation than you deserve.

This is the bare minimum you need to win a pension:

• A talented attorney: only 2% of cases receive a pension, so having a sophisticated, experienced L&I attorney that will fight for you all the way through the process is a key component.
• The right strategy: the best L&I attorneys can walk you through the pros and cons of each potential strategy for moving your case forward to a pension.
• Dedication and follow-through: acquiring a pension doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time. You’re going to need a great team, a little patience, and a lot of commitment to working through the process until it is complete and you start receiving your pension checks.

How An L&I Attorney Can Help You With Your L&I Pension

Obtaining an L&I pension in Washington can be complicated, which is why you should consider approaching an L&I attorney for advice. If you feel that you are not receiving the benefits to which you are entitled, or you know that your wage has been permanently affected by your injury, you should call the legal team at Emery | Reddy, PLLC for a free case review. Please remember to have your L&I claim number readily available.