Harrisburg Temporary Notice of Compensation Payables Lawyer
What is a TNCP?
A TNCP (Temporary Notice of Compensation Payables) is essentially just a way for your employer’s insurance carrier to stall when it comes to your workers’ compensation claim. It means that the insurance company is not fully accepting your workers’ compensation claim at this time, and by issuing a TNCP the insurer gives itself an additional 90 days to decide whether to accept or deny your claim, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor. During these 90 days the TNCP can become a Notice of Compensation Payable (NCP), meaning that your claim is accepted, or be withdrawn, meaning that your claim is denied.
What Happens if The TNCP is Withdrawn?
During the 90-day window that the insurance carrier is provided after issuing a Temporary Notice of Compensation Payables, they can withdraw said TNCP at any point. This means that your claim is denied, and the insurance carrier will immediately terminate your medical and wage benefits. The good news is that if the insurance company does not withdraw, via a notice of denial, your claim is accepted and you can rest easy. However, many claimants struggling with the unknown during this month-and-a-half waiting period; to be forced to wait, unknowing about what may happen to them financially, for such a long period of time can be extremely taxing, especially when they should be allowed to focus on recovering from their work injury.
Filing a Petition
If the TNCP is withdrawn during the 90 day period, in order to receive benefits you must file a claim petition. At this point, a judge will be asked to step in and make a decision in court. If you do return to work following a withdrawn TNCP but feel that it is likely to be unsuccessful, you can file a precautionary claim petition if you believe that the injury will worsen at work.
Do Not Feel Pressured to Return to Work
If you are issued a TNCP and it is withdrawn, you may feel pressured to return to work. However, returning to work too early following an injury or illness can set you back months, or even years, in terms of recovery. Take a brain injury, for example. According to Brainline, 50 percent of injured employees with a traumatic brain injury failed to return to work after one year, signifying the long-term recovery process needed. Returning to work too early following a TBI can impede recovery long-term, and in the end the employee may find that they can no longer complete this type of work at all due to their permanent brain injury. Yet, benefits will be much harder to secure at this point after being back at work for months or years.
Call a Harrisburg Workers’ Compensation Lawyer if You Received a TNCP Notice
It is incredibly stressful to be at the mercy of your employer and their insurance carrier, particularly when you have up to 90 days to hear back about your claim. To ensure that your rights are protected and that you are prepared to take the matter before a judge if necessary, call a Harrisburg workers’ compensation attorney at Ira H. Weinstock, P.C. today at 717-238-1657 to schedule a free consultation.
