Pennsylvania Heart and Lung Work Injury Lawyer (Act 534)
The Pennsylvania Heart and Lung Act offers relief to injured workers employed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and offers full salary compensation in case of an injury/accident at work. The intent of the Heart and Lung Act is to provide important public safety personnel with full compensation while disabled from an injury which happens in the performance of duty; and grants compensation where the disability is temporary. In workers’ compensation, compensation can be for permanent injuries too.
It applies to a number of state and local workers, including but not limited to, park guards, police officers, firefighters, investigators, correction officers, enforcement officers, and more. Unlike the PA workers’ compensation act, PA Heart and Lung Act grants full compensation and continuation of employee benefit post the injury.
It is designed to help public safety workers get respite after an accident and focus on mental and physical health instead of worrying about the financial complications post the incident.
However, dealing with the claim while injured could be more complicated than it sounds. That is where a workers’ compensation attorney who specializes in a Pennsylvania Heart and Lung claims could help.
Although the Pennsylvania Heart and Lung Act awards full compensation and continuation of employee benefits to certain employees, and is therefore more generous than the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act in that regard, its scope is narrower and its language should be strictly construed.
For police officers, firefighters and other specifically enumerated people, the relevant law is 53 P.S. 637
For county jail employees in Pennsylvania, the relevant law is 16 P.S. 4531
For state mental hospital workers in Pennsylvania, the section is 61 P.S. 951-952
Act 534 benefits aka “Act 534/632” applies to an employee of a state penal or correctional institution under the Bureau of Corrections of the Department of Justice and any employee of a state mental hospital or Youth Development Center under the Department of Public Welfare, who is injured by the act of an inmate or person who has been committed to the institution, or an employee of the Department of Public Welfare who volunteers for the firefighting force and is injured while carrying out firefighting duties, etc.
What is the Purpose of Pennsylvania’s Heart And Lung Act?
The purpose of the Heart and Lung Act is to provide important public safety personnel with full compensation while disabled from an injury which happens in the performance of duty; and grants compensation where the disability is temporary. In workers’ compensation, compensation can be for permanent injuries too.
- For police officers, firefighters and other specifically enumerated people, the relevant law is 53 P.S. 637.
- For county jail employees in Pennsylvania, the relevant law is 16 P.S. 4531
- For state mental hospital workers in Pennsylvania, the section is 61 P.S. 951-952.
What is The Act 534 Benefit?
Act 534 benefits aka “Act 534/632” applies to an employee of a state penal or correctional institution under the Bureau of Corrections of the Department of Justice and any employee of a state mental hospital or Youth Development Center under the Department of Public Welfare, who is injured by the act of an inmate or person who has been committed to the institution, or an employee of the Department of Public Welfare who volunteers for the firefighting force and is injured while carrying out firefighting duties, etc.
Who is Covered Under Act 534?
Under Pennsylvania Act 534, all the workers of state hospitals, youth development centers, department of human service, state centers, Pennsylvania penal and correctional institutions, and mental hospitals are covered in case of an injury at work.
The Pennsylvania Heart and Lung Act cover enforcement officers employed by the state police department, correctional centers, law enforcement agencies, investigation firms, judiciary, and more.
What is the Criteria to Receive Benefits?
You may have a Pennsylvania Work Comp claim but not an Act 534 or Heart & Lung Act claim. For a Heart and Lung claim to be available, the injury must occur during the performance of one’s duties. Under Act 534, the injury must be due to “an act of any inmate or any person confined in such institution.”
How Much Can You Get from Act 534 Benefits?
An employee or injured worker eligible for Act 534 or Heart and Lung compensation is entitled to full, base salary. The employer pays the salary. Workers’ Comp benefits that may be payable are either paid directly to the employer by the insurer or must be turned over by the injured worker to the employer (i.e., State).
Can You Receive Benefits From Act 534 (Heart and Lung Benefits) at the Same Time as Workmens’ Comp?
Yes, you can receive your Heart and Lung or Act 534 benefits and PA work comp benefits at the same time. The work comp carrier will pay the state what is owed in work comp (2/3 wage loss) while the injured worker receives full salary.
What to Do if Your Act 534 Claim is Denied
You have the right to a “Due Process” hearing. If you are covered under the Heart and Lung Act or Act 534, you are entitled to a due process hearing if your benefits are denied or prior to any termination of benefits.
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Our Heart And Lung Act Attorneys Can Help in Pennsylvania
For more information about the Heart and Lung Act in Pennsylvania or Act 534, call or email experienced Pennsylvania Workers’ Comp attorney Michael W. Cardamone of The Cardamone Law Firm at 215-206-9068 for a free and prompt analysis of your case.
