What to Do If Your Workers’ Comp Checks Suddenly Stop
In New Jersey, insurance carriers are required to follow specific procedures before terminating or modifying your workers’ comp payments. A sudden halt in your checks does not always mean your claim has been denied, but it does demand immediate attention.
What to Do If Your Workers’ Comp Payments Stop?
Acting quickly after your payments stop gives you the best chance of resolving the issue before it spirals into a larger dispute. The following steps can help you identify the problem and protect your right to continued benefits:
- Call the Adjuster: Contact the claims adjuster handling your case and request a specific explanation for why your payments were stopped.
- Check for Notices: Check your mail and email for any formal notice from the insurance carrier regarding the termination or modification of benefits.
- Contact Your Doctor: Confirm with your treating physician that no updated reports or independent medical examination results were submitted that could have triggered a change in your benefit status.
- Contact Our Lawyers: If the adjuster cannot provide a clear answer or you believe the stoppage is unjustified, reaching out to our workers’ compensation attorneys can help you determine whether the insurer violated proper procedures.
Keeping copies of every document related to your claim, including pay stubs, medical records, and correspondence with the insurance company, strengthens your position significantly. Workers in Cherry Hill and throughout Camden County should store these records in a safe and accessible location from the very start of their claim.
When Can Workers’ Comp Stop Paying Without Notice?
In most situations, an insurance carrier cannot simply cut off your benefits without providing advance notice and a valid reason. However, if your treating doctor releases you to full duty or your Temporary Total Disability (TTD) period reaches its statutory limit, they may have grounds to discontinue payments.
Potential Reasons for Stopped Checks
Several common issues can lead to an interruption in your workers’ compensation payments, and not all of them signal a permanent denial. The following reasons account for the majority of stopped checks in New Jersey:
- Your doctor released you to return to work at full capacity
- The insurer scheduled an Independent Medical Examination (IME) that found you no longer disabled
- Surveillance or social media evidence contradicted your reported limitations
- You missed a scheduled medical appointment or refused recommended treatment
- An administrative error or processing delay occurred at the insurance company
- Your TTD benefits reached the maximum duration allowed under state law
Some of these issues can be resolved quickly by phone, while others may require filing a motion with the Division of Workers’ Compensation. Reviewing the specific reason behind the stoppage is the first step toward determining whether your benefits should be reinstated.
How to Fight a Stopped Workers’ Comp Check in New Jersey
Matarazzo & Lubcher has over 100 years of collective experience helping injured workers in New Jersey get their benefits restored when insurance carriers wrongfully terminate payments. Our attorneys can file motions for medical and temporary disability benefits, challenge unfavorable IME findings, and represent you at hearings before the Division of Workers’ Compensation.
Contact us by phone at 856-460-5805 or through our online form to schedule a free consultation with our workers’ compensation lawyers in Cherry Hill who can review your stopped payments and take the appropriate legal action to pursue the benefits you are owed.