When you or a loved one is injured at work, you may be entitled to workers compensation benefits. Many who are out of work due to an injury wonder what weekly benefits will be paid as they recover from their injury.
Types of Disability Benefits
First it is worthwhile to look at the types of disability payments you may be entitled to depending on your unique circumstances:
(HP) Healing Period – payable on the first calendar day after an injury for those recovering from an injury which produces a permanent impairment continuing until the first day the employee returns to work, recovers as much as anticipated from the injury, or is medically capable of returning to work in the same kind of work
(TTD) Temporary Total Disability – Paid when an employee misses more than three days of work due to an injury, payable on the fourth day (from first day if out of work more than 14 days) and continuing until a return to work or medically recovered enough to return.
(PPD) Permanent Partial Disability – Payable when a work injury results in a permanent impairment, a permanent restriction, or an inability to earn the same wage earned prior to the injury. Paid in addition to HP benefits.
(PTD) Permanent Total Disability – When an injury leaves an employee incapable of returning to any type of wage earning work
Scheduled Member Disabilities – Scheduled body members (i.e. arm, leg) paid for a determined number of weeks multiplied by the percentage of loss of use
Calculating Disability Benefits
TTD, HP, PPD or PTD benefits are paid at a weekly rate after factoring in your marital status and the number of exemptions (dependents) you claim.
Generally the rate is determined looking at you spendable earnings before any deductions, paid at a rate of 80%. Spendable earnings is defined as the amount remaining after payroll taxes are deducted from an employee’s weekly earnings.
Keep in mind that:
The weekly benefit amount is based on a 7 day calendar week
There is a maximum weekly disability benefit rate of $1,845 for PPD and a maximum of $2,005 for TTD, HP, PTD and death benefits.
Contact a Quad Cities Workers Compensation Lawyer for Help
When you are injured at work and have questions regarding workers’ compensation benefits or if you have been denied benefits, contact the workers’ compensation attorneys of McDonald, Woodward & Carlson, P.C. for help at 563-355-6478.