What You Need to Know About Temporary Total Disability Benefits

Temporary total disability (TTD) is one of the types of benefits that injured employees may be eligible for under the state of California’s workers’ compensation laws. With this benefit, a portion of an injured worker’s salary is paid during the time that an employee cannot work due to their injury.

This benefit will only be provided under specific circumstances, and workers’ comp insurance companies often look for the moment when they can stop paying TTD. It is important to understand when you may be eligible for TTD, and when TTD payments will cease.

The first requirement is that you must have been injured on the job in the course and scope of your employment. Next, your primary treating doctor must evaluate you and decide that you cannot return to work, even modified work, due to the workplace injury. The primary treating doctor is typically a physician in the employer's medical provider network.

TTD payments will come to an end eventually. This often occurs when a physician determines that the worker has reached maximum medical improvement (MMI) status. At this point, TTD stops. If the employee is unable to return to their previous position, he or she may qualify for permanent partial disability benefits.

A worker’s TTD rate is typically two-thirds of his or her average weekly wages at the time of the injury. There are also maximum and minimum rate requirements. It is critical to do your own rate calculation, as sometimes, certain sources of income are left out of the calculation done by workers’ compensation insurers. Housing and car allowances as well as per diems may all count as income for this calculation.

When you are injured on the job, you should receive any and all workers’ comp benefits for which you are eligible. If you are eligible to receive TTD benefits, you likely are feeling the financial crunch from being out of work for some period of time, and obtaining workers’ compensation payments may be essential for your family’s financial stability.

The workers’ compensation system in California is full of rules and laws that must be followed very closely. Failure to adhere to these requirements could mean a denial of your claim. It should also be noted that you may be able to collect benefits through the state of California’s Employment Development Department (EDD).

At Corsiglia McMahon & Allard, L.L.P., we pride ourselves on getting workers who have been injured on the job as much help as the law allows. This includes medical treatment and compensation for the time you cannot work. Our seasoned Santa Clara County workers’ comp attorneys offer free consultations to those who have sustained workplace injuries. Call us today at 408-289-1417.

• Chapter 5. Temporary Disability Benefits