Which best describes 'Compensation' in this division?

• A. Wages and salary paid while the employee is off work.
• B. Medical expenses only.
• C. Pension benefits only.
• D. Every benefit or payment conferred by this division upon an injured employee, or dependents, without regard to negligence.

Answer: (D)

Compensation in California workers’ compensation is the no-fault system of benefits provided to an injured employee or their dependents. It covers every benefit or payment that the division makes under the act, not depending on who caused the injury. That breadth is why the best description is that compensation includes medical care, wage replacement (temporary disability), permanent disability, death benefits, vocational rehabilitation, and other payments—the full range of benefits the division awards, regardless of fault. The no-fault aspect means benefits are provided without regard to negligence, which is a fundamental feature of how the system operates. The other options only describe individual components (like medical costs or wages while off work) and do not capture the entire scope of compensation.