Workers’ Comp at Lowe's: Who Qualifies & How to File

Lowe’s is the second-largest home improvement chain in the United States (after Home Depot). Working at a home improvement store like Lowe’s is different from working in other retail environments and may put you at greater risk for injury. Data shows that 4.1 out of every 100 workers are injured in building material and garden equipment stores, significantly higher than the national average of 2.7 for all stores.

The silver lining is that injured workers can qualify for workers’ compensation, which pays for medical expenses and lost income while you’re out of work recovering.

Here’s what you need to know if you were injured while working at Lowe’s.

Does Lowe’s have workers’ compensation insurance?

Yes, Lowe’s Home Improvement offers workers’ compensation insurance. Every state in the country requires employers as big as Lowe’s to follow the state-run workers’ compensation program.

The only two exceptions are South Dakota and Texas. Lowe’s does still offer coverage in those states, though. In Texas. Lowe’s has a self-funded Occupational Injury Benefit Plan for Texas workers.

In all other states your workers’ comp claim will be handled by Sedgwick, a third-party claims management company that Lowe’s hires to handle claims on its behalf.

Who is eligible for workers’ comp at Lowe’s?

If you are a Lowe’s employee and were injured while working you are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Full-time, part-time, temporary, and seasonal employees all qualify. Contractors don’t qualify unfortunately.

If you get a Form W-2 from Lowe’s during tax season, that’s a good sign you’re an employee. If you get a 1099 (like Form 1099-MISC or Form 1099-NEC) then Lowe’s likely classifies you as an independent contractor and you don’t qualify for its workers’ comp benefits.

Read more about which workers can qualify for workers’ comp.

Injuries that qualify you for workers’ comp

Accidents, injuries, illnesses, and health conditions that happen while you’re working or directly result from carrying out your job duties and all qualify for workers’ comp. It also doesn’t matter whose fault the injury was because workers’ comp is also a no-fault program.

Injuries that result from a single event are easiest to get benefits for. Falling off a ladder or burning your skin from a chemical spill are all clear examples of eligible injuries.

Conditions that develop over time also qualify. One common example is lower back pain from months or years of lifting heavy merchandise. Also known as cumulative trauma or repetitive-strain injuries, these are harder to get benefits for because insurance could argue that your life outside of work led to the injury. Medical records and doctor notes are helpful for these cases. So is talking to a workers’ comp attorney.

Injuries that significantly worsen a pre-existing condition can also get you benefits. As an example, let’s say you previously had a herniated disc and one day it is re-injured at work. That qualifies for workers’ comp, though insurance will likely challenge it and you’ll need to show medically that your work caused the re-aggravation and it wasn’t a result of your off-duty activities.

Learn more about injuries that qualify for workers’ comp.

Common workplace injuries as a Lowe’s employee

According to 2020 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the most common nonfatal injuries among stores that sell building material and garden supplies like Lowe’s were:

1. Contact with object or equipment

About one-third of nonfatal injuries at stores like Lowe’s were the result of contact with objects or equipment. You might hurt yourself working at Lowe’s if you’re a stocker and boxes fall onto you, or if part of your body gets caught in the lift used to load and unload delivery trucks.

2. Falls, slips, and trips

Falls, slips, and trips are fairly common in building material and garden equipment stores, accounting for 22% of nonfatal injuries.

Working at Lowe’s, you might use a ladder to stock items and retrieve them for customers. You might injure yourself by falling off a ladder. Or your injury might be more commonplace, like slipping on the floor after a customer spilled a drink. Again, it doesn’t matter whose fault your injury was.

3. Overexertion

Overexertion covers two types of injuries: those resulting from lifting heavy objects, and repetitive motion.

Working at Lowe’s, you may have to unload heavy building materials or appliances from trucks. If you work in the garden center, you may lift large bags of potting soil and heavy potted plants. It’s easy to overexert yourself and hurt your back or shoulders. In all cases, notify your supervisor in writing as soon as you suspect a work-related injury.

3 steps you need to take after an incident at Lowe’s

If you’re injured while working at Lowe’s, first seek any emergency medical care you require. Make sure to let the doctors know that you were injured at work. Here’s what to do next:

1. Notify your supervisor in writing

The length of time you have to report a work injury varies by state, but it’s a good idea to inform your supervisor of your injury as soon as possible. Tell them verbally but also give them a written statement — like an email or a dated letter — detailing when and how the injury occurred. If you have a cumulative injury, notify your supervisor as soon as you notice the injury or realize it’s work-related.

Here’s how to make a written report.

You also have a limited amount of time to act. Most states only give you a few days to report injuries before you lose eligibility. See how long you have to report a work injury in your state. In Texas, where Lowe’s is a non-subscriber, you need to report the injury within 24 hours to qualify for the company’s self-funded injury benefits plan.

2. Fill out the necessary forms to file a claim

Lowe’s third-party claims administrator, Sedgwick, will handle the details of your workers’ compensation claim and that includes providing you with the forms you need to file an actual claim.

To file a claim with Sedgwick, you can call them at 1-855-286-8980 or visit www.MyLowesBenefits.com and click on Sedgwick: Leaves, Accom. & Workers Comp, which will direct you to the mySedgwick portal.

You can submit documents through the mySedgwick portal or via fax (1-859-280-4983), email (LowesClaimInfo@Sedgwick.com), or mail (PO Box 14671, Lexington, KY 40512). Remember to include your name and claim number on all documents, and if you speak to Sedgwick on the phone, be prepared to verify your identity with your Lowe’s sales ID or the last four digits of your Social Security number.

For more advice, here’s a guide to filing for workers’ comp in every state that outlines the required forms.

3. Get treatment and work to recover

If your injury is serious, you should immediately seek medical attention. If you do not require urgent medical care, Lowe’s or Sedgwick (who manages claims on behalf of Lowe’s), may refer you to a specific doctor or approved medical facility. Similar to regular health insurance, some providers are covered by workers’ comp and some are out-of-network.

Keep records of all medical care you receive related to your workplace injury. The insurer should also cover these bills, so make sure the provider knows it’s work related. If someone is sending you bills, you should be able to get reimbursement later on, but that’s also a sign something may be amiss with your claim. (A workers’ comp lawyer can help you fix issues with workers’ comp medical care.)

What workers’ comp benefits will I get from Lowe’s?

There are two kinds of benefits you’ll receive after an injury at Lowe’s:

• Coverage of eligible medical expenses

• Lost wage payments

The amount you can receive for medical expenses depends on your injury, but you can expect to have all necessary medical expenses covered. That includes everything from copays and prescription medication to physical therapy and surgery.

You will probably have to select your doctor from a list of Sedgwick-approved providers, but if your care is ever denied or you run into issues, talk to a workers’ comp lawyer.

If your injury results in days away from work, you are also eligible for wage replacement benefits. These are checks that you get every week or two and they’re typically equal to two-thirds of your average pre-injury weekly wage.

Lost wages benefits are calculated differently in each state. Find the workers’ comp payment rates in your state.

Find a local workers' comp lawyer

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