Section 33 - Burial Expenses

When a loved one passes away due to a work injury, the emotional strain is what everyone sees and understands. Whether it’s your parent, sibling, spouse, or child, a death in the family can leave a hole in your life. But, what other people don’t see is the financial burden that many families have to bear just to pay for the funeral expenses. It’s not uncommon for a family to have to finance a funeral, cremation, or burial. Then, the monthly payments are a constant reminder of the death of your loved one.

Luckily, the Massachusetts Workers Compensation Law accounts for the additional expenses of burials when a loved one is killed on the job.

Section 33 benefits deal specifically with the costs associated with burials. The insurance company will pay for these costs when a worker is killed in an industrial accident on the job. The only limitation is that there is a cap on these benefits pegged at 8 times the Massachusetts State Average Weekly Wage, which changes every year.

There are many expenses that go along with a funeral. This includes the obvious and not so obvious:

• Funeral Home: The funeral home will have a charge for their services. That charge may vary depending on the services that are offered, such as calling hours.
• Staff: If there is a viewing or other gathering, the funeral home will have to hire staff to accommodate the crowd.
• Transportation of the Remains: Getting your loved one to the funeral home requires special services, especially if an autopsy was performed.
• Body Preparation: Whether you intend to have a viewing or a closed
• Casket: Even the most modestly priced receptacle can run in the thousands of dollars.
• Vehicles/Transportation: Whether it’s a hearse to take the casket or a service car to take the immediate family, car service fees will need to be paid.
• Printing: Many services include a basic printed package with information, as well as funeral service printing.

If you lost a loved one in an industrial accident or any work injury, money may be the least of your concerns. But sooner or later, the financial impact of your loss is something that you’re going to feel. In the grand scheme of things, getting reimbursed for Burial Expenses is a drop in the bucket. Even so, it’s important to be able to consult an experienced Lowell workers compensation lawyer to make sure that you’re not leaving money on the table. An experienced Lowell Workers Compensation Lawyer will be able to make sure you not only get Section 33 Burial Expenses, but potential other Death Benefits pursuant to Section 31.

At Marcotte Law Firm, our Workers Compensation Lawyers have decades of experience with workers compensation claims, including death claims. Our attorneys understand these claims, and your attorney will know how to guide you through it. Dealing with the loss of a loved one is enough. You shouldn’t have to figure the insurance company on your own as well.

If you’ve lost a loved one to a work injury, call the Lowell Workers Compensation Lawyers of Marcotte Law firm for a free, no cost consultation.