Compensations based on the Occupational Accidents, Injuries and Diseases Act and the Motor Liability Insurance Act are primary in relation to earnings-related pensions. That means that if you are injured, you will first receive compensation based on these two acts. You will get an earnings-related pension only if your earnings-related pension is higher than the compensation for loss of earnings paid because of the accident at work or the traffic accident.
Generally, the compensation based on these insurances are higher than your disability pension, so sometimes there is no disability pension left to pay. Note, though, that you should always claim a disability pension because it may improve your later income for the following reasons:
- If your ability to work is restored and you return to work, you will earn pension also for the period that you were receiving a disability pension. This will improve the level of your future old-age pension.
- If the compensation you get from the workers’ compensation insurance or the motor liability insurance is reduced at a later point, you may be paid some disability pension.
On its own initiative, the pension provider will take your primary benefits into account when calculating your pension. On the pension claim, you are asked if you receive or are claiming such benefits.
You will earn a pension for short-term compensations based on the Occupational Accidents, Injuries and Diseases Act or the Motor Liability Insurance Act you will earn a pension.
Accident at work or occupational disease
If your disability was caused by an accident at work or an occupation disease, you will receive a pension based on the Occupational Accidents, Injuries and Diseases Act. This pension is primary, which means that it is not reduced by any other pension you may receive.
You will receive the pension if your disability continues for more than one year after the accident. The pension is paid when the period of the sickness allowance ends.
You are entitled to this pension if, due to an accident at work or an occupation disease, your
- ability to work has been reduced by more than 10 per cent, and
- your earnings have been reduced as a result.
Your employer is under obligation to take out insurance for accidents at work for you (under the Occupational Accidents, Injuries and Diseases Act).
Traffic accident
If you get injured in a traffic accident, you will get a compensation for lost earnings based on the Motor Liability Insurance Act.