Workers’ Compensation provides benefits to workers who are injured or who contract an occupational disease while working. When the parties (injured worker and employer or insurance company) are unable to amicably resolve their differences over your entitlement to workers’ compensation benefits, the Division of Workers’ Compensation provides a fair and impartial forum to mediate and, if necessary, adjudicate disputes before a Judge of Compensation. One method of resolving such disputes is the informal hearing.         
    
An informal hearing is an opportunity for you, the petitioner (injured worker) and the employer or their insurance company to meet before a Judge of Compensation and discuss the settlement of your workers’ compensation claim. Issues such as the amount of temporary benefits, medical treatment, and permanency benefits can be addressed as this hearing.
    
To file for an informal hearing, you, your employer or your employer’s insurance company can request a hearing by filing an Application for an Informal Hearing. You can obtain this form on the Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s website. If you have questions and would like to discuss your workers’ compensation case in more detail, contact me for a free consultation here in my frim’s Lawrenceville, New Jersey office.