Workers’ comp benefits can stop at retirement age, Mont. judge rules

A Montana judge recently ruled that insurers don’t have to pay lifetime benefits to injured workers who are permanently disabled on the job, according to the Billings Gazette.

State Fund insures more than 20,000 Montana businesses against on-the-job injuries, the paper said. State Workers Compensation Judge James Shea recently ruled against Catherine Satterlee and three other permanently disabled workers, who argued that their workers’ compensation benefits should continue into retirement.

Workers’ comp pays benefits to workers injured on the job, based on the severity and duration of the injury. Under Montana law, workers who are permanently and completely disabled by an on-the-job injury can receive benefits until they qualify for retirement benefits, such as Social Security.

Satterlee argued it was unconstitutional to cut off those benefits at retirement, because the decision is based on age.

Had the Montana State Fund lost the case, it would have faced increased liability of at least $260 million, and private insurers would have seen higher costs in benefits owed to disabled workers, the paper reported.

An appeal to the decision is expected.

Topics Legislation Workers' Compensation