The 'On-The-Job' Injury Attorney

Do workers’ compensation benefits last until full recovery?

On Behalf of | Oct 18, 2024 | Workers' Compensation

Workers’ compensation benefits are invaluable in helping injured workers address their medical needs and recover some of their lost wages during recovery. Affected workers may wonder how long these benefits will last.

The answer to this concern depends on the acuteness of the injury and the nature of the worker’s recovery progress. Injured workers can benefit from exploring the key elements determining how long workers’ compensation benefits are available and the different scenarios influencing benefit duration.

Categories of benefits provided

When an injured worker is no longer in a position to perform any of their job duties, they may qualify for Temporary Total Disability (TTD) benefits. These benefits are intended to partially compensate injured workers for the wages they aren’t able to earn.

Suppose an injured worker is in a position to resume work but cannot execute their full job description. In that case, they may be eligible to receive Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) benefits. These benefits are calculated as the difference between the worker’s wages before the injury and their reduced earnings after returning to work. TPD benefits may continue for 104 weeks or until the worker can return to their pre-injury earning capacity.

A doctor will determine when the worker has achieved maximum medical improvement (MMI). MMI means that the individual has recovered as much as possible, even if some limitations remain. At this point, temporary benefits may cease.

In some cases, an injured worker may experience lasting impairments as a result of their injury. If these limitations prevent them from returning to their previous job or earning their pre-injury wages, they may be eligible for permanent disability benefits. Permanent disability can be awarded as either:

  • Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): When the worker sustains a long-term impairment but can still execute some work duties.
  • Permanent Total Disability (PTD): If the worker is no longer in a position to execute any form of gainful employment due to the injury.

These benefits can be either weekly or lump-sum payments, depending on the nature of the disability.

Understanding how workers’ compensation benefits are structured can help injured workers plan their recovery and financial future. For those experiencing complex or long-term injuries, enlisting compassionate legal support can help ensure that they receive the benefits they deserve as they recover.