Prolonged stress and anxiety can take as serious of a toll on the body as any physical injury. According to the American Psychological Association, severe stress can affect many of the body’s systems, leading to increased blood pressure, digestive issues, migraines, and more.
Work is a primary cause of stress for many people. Many employees might wonder if they can claim workers’ compensation benefits for anxiety, stress, and related mental health issues in South Carolina. While these benefits are available in specific situations, they might be challenging to get without help from an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer.
Get help from Land Parker Welch LLC. Our legal team has 120 years of combined legal experience assisting injured workers throughout South Carolina. You don’t need to take on the additional task of filing for workers’ comp benefits when we can help every step of the way.
Call or contact us for a free consultation today.
Eligibility for Workers’ Compensation
To claim workers’ compensation benefits for anxiety or stress-related issues, you must first be eligible for workers’ compensation under South Carolina law.
Generally speaking, any business with four or employees and a total annual payroll of more than $3,000 is required to provide workers’ compensation benefits for its employees. There are a handful of exceptions to this rule, such as:
- Federal government employees who work in South Carolina
- Agricultural workers
- Certain real estate workers
- Corporate officers
- Railroad workers
- Specific types of seasonal or temporary employees
Assuming you do not meet any of these exceptions, you should be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault benefit, meaning that as long as an injury is related to your work, you’re eligible for benefits, regardless of fault.
Mental Health Conditions May Be Covered Under Workers’ Comp
Without an accompanying physical injury, mental health conditions are generally not covered under workers’ compensation in South Carolina.
Under South Carolina law, injured workers are only able to obtain workers’ compensation for mental health conditions without a physical injury if the worker can demonstrate that:
- Whatever conditions that caused the employee’s mental health condition were “extraordinary” and unusual compared to the employee’s typical work environment
- Those unusual conditions caused or exacerbated the worker’s mental health issues
This is often a high bar to clear for most employees suffering from depression or anxiety related to their work environment. However, you may be able to obtain benefits with help from a knowledgeable workers’ compensation lawyer.
Accidents or Injuries at Work That Can Lead to Anxiety or Depression
Some of the most common types of work-related accidents or injuries that can cause or aggravate depression and anxiety include:
- Car accidents
- Industrial accidents/explosions
- Workplace violence
- Amputated or crushed limbs
- Witnessing a traumatic event (e.g., a motor vehicle accident, shooting, etc.)
We Can Help You File for Workers’ Compensation Benefits
The South Carolina workers’ compensation lawyers at Land, Parker & Welch LLC have been helping injured employees get the benefits they need for more than 30 years. Get a free, no-obligation consultation today by calling our office or by reaching out to us online.
