If you are a civilian working on a military base outside the U.S., you need to understand the ins-and-outs of the Defense Base Act. This legislation offers employees a range of protections in the event you are hurt or become sick on a job site outside the country.
Contractors are required to provide you with a range of benefits just like domestic employers do with traditional workers’ compensation insurance. The knowledgeable Defense Base Act attorneys at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris are here to guide you. Keep reading to learn if you could be covered under the Defense Base Act.
What Are the Primary Factors of the Defense Base Act?
The Defense Base Act is a federal statute that is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor. All contractors who employ individuals overseas are required by law to purchase this protection. If you are the victim of a workplace accident or illness, the Act could help you get the care you need, though you have 30 days to file a written report with your supervisor and a year to file a Defense Base Act claim.
Which Workers Could Be Covered Under the Act?
In order to be covered by the Defense Base Act, you must be working on either at a U.S. military base abroad or on a government-sanctioned national defense or public works project. As well, if you provide welfare services, such as mental health counseling, to U.S. armed forces personnel, then you may also be covered under this legislation.
Benefits of the Defense Base Act
Overseas contractors must provide their staff members with a range of benefits, including disability compensation. If you become sick or injured at work, you have the right to choose your medical provider and this benefit could supplement your income while you recover.
Your medical and rehabilitation services are also covered. That way, employees are able to get the necessary treatments needed to return to good health and get back to work. However, in the event you are not able to return to the job site, this Act could provide a source of income. Death benefits are included as well and would compensate your eligible survivors if you are killed while laboring overseas.
Consult With Us to Learn If You Are Covered Under the Defense Base Act
Getting injured while working overseas could be a nerve-racking experience for many of us. Do not take a chance with the unknown. Reach out to our law firm of Schechter, Shaffer & Harris for more information about the Defense Base Act and if you could be covered. Our team of legal professionals would explain which workers are eligible for coverage and help you file for benefits. These paperwork-heavy claims are complex, with numerous deadlines, and we are here to help guide you.
