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What to expect after your work injury

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What is workers’ comp?

Workers’ compensation benefits are designed to replace wages lost due to a work injury and cover medical bills related to on-the-job injuries. You may be eligible for benefits if you were injured due to your job. We’re here to answer your questions and help you recover and return to work.

Learn about workers’ comp benefits →

You were injured at work, now what?

Being injured at work isn’t fun. We’re here to help you get the care you need to recover, so you can get back to normal life. As a workers’ compensation insurer, SFM provides benefits to injured workers on behalf of their employers.

After we receive your injury report, your claims representative will typically contact you and your employer to get more information about the injury. They will also gather medical records to help determine if your claim is a compensable work injury and benefits are owed.

Typically, this process can take anywhere from 14-30 days depending on the laws in your state.

If your treating physician takes you off work due to a work-related injury, you may receive workers’ compensation benefits to help make up for lost pay, but there are some limitations you should know about.

First, there’s a waiting period that is required before you can start receiving wage-loss benefits. This means you may not receive benefits if you are only off work for a few days.

Also, depending on your state, wage-loss benefits will typically cover two-thirds of the gross wages you would have received working at your regular job.

Learn more about wage-loss benefits

Your employer will look for a light-duty, transitional job that you can do if medical restrictions prevent you from returning to your regular job right away. To return to work, you’ll need a written release from your doctor stating your restrictions, and that you are able to work.

If you work fewer hours or get lower pay than usual for your light-duty job, workers’ compensation benefits will pay half to two-thirds of the difference between your pre-injury wage and the reduced wage in most states.

You will receive a pharmacy card in the mail from our pharmacy benefit manager. You can use it at participating pharmacies so you don’t have to pay up front for work injury-related prescriptions.

Learn more about getting prescriptions

Medical bills related to your work injury should be sent directly to SFM. If you receive a bill, email it to sfmcorporateservices@sfmic.com or mail it to your claims representative at the
following address:

SFM Companies
P.O. Box 9416
Minneapolis, MN 55440

Contact your medical provider to make sure they know your injury is work-related, and that future bills should be directed to SFM. Medical providers can direct bills to SFM electronically using the Payer ID J1553.

SFM has forms and other documents available to bring to doctor office visits, get reimbursed for mileage and educate you on workers’ compensation.

View injured employee documents

For more timely payments, have your workers’ compensation benefit checks deposited directly into your bank account.

Learn more about direct deposit

You can access your claim information online through SFM’s Claim Connection portal. There you can see your claim number, view claim details, monitor payment status, sign up for payment alerts, and get an insurance card to take to your medical appointments. Click here to register for an account.

If you have questions about your claim, contact your SFM claims representative.

View your state labor department’s website for state-specific benefit questions:

Fraud is when a person deliberately misrepresents or fails to disclose material information to receive benefits to which they are not entitled. Fraud is a crime, and SFM pursues offenders.

What you need to do

To make sure you get your benefits on time and make a smooth recovery:

  • Return your claims representative’s phone calls and provide any needed medical information as soon as you can
  • Let your claims rep know if you start missing time from work due to your injury and the date when you return to work
  • Get an updated list of your work restrictions at each doctor visit, and give it to your employer and claims rep right away.
  • Let your doctor know that SFM is the work comp insurer and give them your claim number
  • Tell your doctor if your employer offers light-duty work
  • Call your claims rep if your doctor orders a test (like an MRI) or you need medical equipment
  • Make a good faith effort to follow your medical treatment plan
  • Follow your doctor’s work restrictions at home and at work
  • Register for an online Claim Connection account to see claim details online

Access your claim information online

SFM Claim Connection

If you’re an injured worker who has a workers’ compensation claim with us, you can access your claim details online through SFM’s Claim Connection.

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