Generally, maintenance payments are considered the same as state workers ’ compensation payments for purposes of income taxes. This means that normally you do not have to pay federal income tax on any sustenance payments that you receive during your nautical injury. however, it is important to check your own state jurisprudence to determine whether or not you have to pay department of state income tax on alimony payments which you may receive from your employer after a nautical injury .
besides, it is very crucial to note the dispute between maintenance payments and advances. many advances are actually paid as “ wages ” by your maritime employer after your injury. In other words, many employers will merely continue to pay wages to you following your injury even though your employer should legally be categorizing such payments as maintenance. This has the unfortunate effect of requiring you to pay taxes on such advances, the same as you would if you were receiving regular wages. so while maintenance payments may not be taxable to you, there is a very commodity likelihood that advances will be taxable to you specially if they are classified by your employer as wages to you .
Defining “Maintenance” Benefits
care and cure laws, which fall under nautical jurisprudence, require nautical employers to cover aesculapian and surviving expenses on any worker injured on the job. These benefits are one of the basic rights granted to seamen under maritime law.
The employer makes these payments to the worker in order to defray the cost of:
- lodging (rent or mortgage);
- daily food expenses;
- transportation; and
- utilities.
The maritime laws regarding care and bring around benefits help sustain injured workers during their convalescence. While a seaman is recovering from the injury or illness, the vessel owner has a legal duty to pay the actor a sealed sustenance allowance. The payments should continue until the actor has reached utmost checkup improvement or the compass point at which extra medical discussion will not improve his health condition .
maintenance payments are historically low. Seamen might receive about $ 30 per day, which is hardly adequate for nutriment. In some instances, the employer and the insurance company might try to limit payouts. If you feel that ’ s what ’ s happening in your encase, you ’ ll want to contact an lawyer straight aside .
Accident Must Be Work-Related
Workers must establish that their injuries occurred while in service of the vessel. unfortunately, some employers may attempt to argue that the worker ’ sulfur injuries occurred because of his or her own froward mismanage .
This may be the subject if the worker was grossly intoxicated from alcohol not obtained from the employer or if the worker intentionally injured himself or herself. It ’ second important that maritime employees facing such accusations work with their attorneys to address these issues.
Read more: How Maritime Law Works
Maintenance Benefits vs. Advances
maintenance payments aren ’ t taxable, but one of the ways injured seamen are hurt come tax clock time is through payments known as “ advances. ” Sometimes, employers will continue to pay the proletarian his or her wage while injured and ineffective to return to work. If these payments are labeled as advances quite than maintenance, they will be subjugate to taxes .
That ’ randomness why it ’ s important to try to obtain as a lot maintenance as potential, preferably than precisely accepting advances from an employer .
Complications with Maritime Accidents
In some instances, complications can arise with maritime accidents and necessitate a lawyer’s counsel:
- employer negligence;
- having an “unseaworthy” vessel;
- failure to pay maintenance and cure;
- wrongful termination because of legal action; or
- unfair or unreasonable payments.
Should any of these issues arise, or if you feel your employer or its insurance ship’s company isn ’ thymine handling your accident fairly, contact a nautical lawyer a soon as possible to preserve your rights and fight for the benefits to which you ’ re entitled.
Read more: Maritime search and rescue – Documentary
Getting Legal Help after a Maritime Work Accident
If you ’ re a mariner who has suffered injury, it ’ second prudent to run your case by an lawyer. You may be able to pursue extra compensation through a Jones Act claim or through a third-party nautical claim .
Our attorneys at The Young Firm know how to successfully resolve issues that injured seamen come across. We have the resources necessary to obtain bazaar recompense for our clients. Contact us today at 504-680-4100 FREE for a free, no-obligation reference .
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