In what situation might benefits be delayed in Oklahoma workers' compensation cases?

Benefits may be delayed in Oklahoma workers' compensation cases particularly when there is a dispute over the compensability of the injury. This situation arises when there is uncertainty or disagreement regarding whether an injury is work-related and therefore eligible for benefits under the workers' compensation system. Such disputes can lead to the need for additional investigation or legal proceedings to determine if the claim is valid, which can postpone the disbursement of benefits to the injured worker while the issue is resolved.

In contrast, while options like a worker not wanting to return to work or an injury being caused by a pre-existing condition can complicate a case, they do not inherently delay benefits in the same way that a compensability dispute can. Similarly, the absence of a workers' compensation policy on the part of the employer may have implications for the worker's ability to claim benefits, but it doesn't specifically relate to the timing of benefit disbursement like compensability disputes do.