Benefit adequacy ensures what for injured workers?

Benefit adequacy refers to the principle that injured workers receive sufficient benefits to support their recovery and maintain their livelihood during their recovery period. This means that the benefits are designed not only to cover medical expenses but also to help injured workers meet their basic living needs while they are unable to work due to their injuries.

Ensuring benefit adequacy involves assessing the amount and duration of benefits provided, which should be reflective of the worker's prior earning capacity and the extent of their injury. This is crucial not just for financial stability but also for promoting recovery and reintegration into the workforce after an injury.

The other choices do not fully capture the scope of benefit adequacy. Maximum coverage regardless of the injury type could lead to inequities, as it does not take into account the varying costs of treatment and living expenses associated with different injuries. Immediate job placement is unrelated to the financial benefits received and focuses more on employment opportunities post-injury rather than ensuring benefits meet the necessary needs during recovery. Full wage replacement, while potentially a component of the benefits system, may not always be feasible or guaranteed, and thus does not suffice as a definition of benefit adequacy.