Do I Qualify For Total Temporary Disability Benefits?
If you are a Maryland employee who has been injured on the job, you’re likely starting to wonder when those workers’ compensation benefits that you’ve heard so much about kick in. The first step is to make sure you have reported your injury to your employer and filed a claim. It’s then important to seek medical attention. If your doctor says that you are unable to return to work right away due to your injury, then you may be eligible to receive Total Temporary Disability (TTD) Benefits. In this article we will explain what TTD benefits are and whether you may qualify to receive them. However, if you believe you are entitled to TTD or other workers’ compensation benefits due to a workplace injury and your claim has been denied, it’s probably time to talk to an attorney. Although workers’ compensation negates the option to sue your employer directly for the harm caused, it does not keep you from retaining a lawyer to advocate for you and help you to navigate the process. If you would like to speak one-on-one to an experienced Maryland workers’ compensation attorney, contact Berman, Sobin, Gross to schedule a consultation.
Understanding TTD Benefits
Technically, you should qualify for TTD benefits provided you are an employee (not an independent contractor) who was injured in the course of their employment, has sought medical attention, and whose doctor indicates you cannot return to work immediately because of your injury. Ideally, this should prompt your employer’s workers’ compensation company to begin paying you TTD benefits. There is a three-day waiting period between the date of your injury and the date that TTD benefits will begin being dispersed. If your injury lasts 14 days or more during which you cannot be at work, then the initial three days will be compensated retroactively. Many people are surprised to learn that TTD benefits are not equivalent to your total wage replacement. In fact, TTD benefits are only equal to 66.75% of your regular wages. The minimum amount of weekly benefits is $50 (or the employee’s wage if less than that) and the maximum amount is $1,050.00 (for 2021 – the rate changes annually based on the state’s average weekly wage), which is equal to 100% of Maryland’s average weekly wage.
If your doctor says that you are able to return to work on a limited basis, as opposed to not being able to work at all, you will likely qualify for TPD Benefits, or Temporary Partial Disability Benefits. The benefits provide 50% of the difference between the salary you were earning prior to your injury, and the salary that you are earning while working in a light duty or part time capacity. However, these benefits cannot exceed $525.00 weekly (for 2021), or 50% of Maryland’s average weekly wage.
Talk to a Maryland Workers’ Compensation Attorney
If you are a Maryland employee who has been injured on the job and are struggling to get the resources, support, and compensation that you are entitled to, Berman, Sobin, Gross, is ready to fight for you. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and find out how we can help you recover, move forward, and get on with your life.
Resource:
wcc.state.md.us/adjud_claims/comp_rates.html
