Getting injured at work can cause financial difficulties. Your injury may prevent you from working and earning income. As a result, you may not have enough funds to pay for medical expenses.
If you are facing this situation, filing for workers’ compensation may grant you temporary or permanent disability benefits. Understanding the differences between these options can help in securing the support you need.
What are temporary disability benefits?
Sustaining a short-term injury can prevent you from reporting to work as usual, causing you to lose wages. You may be eligible to apply for temporary disability benefits (TDB), which pay two-thirds of your gross wages every two weeks while you recover.
The payout generally starts after a doctor advises you not to work for more than three days or that you require hospitalization. Once the doctor determines that you have recovered, the payouts will cease.
Depending on the severity of your injury, you may apply for either temporary total disability (TTD) payments or temporary partial disability (TPD) payments. TTD payments are only applicable if you cannot work at all while recovering. Meanwhile, you may receive TPD payments if you can do some work during recovery and your wages are below the set maximum limit.
What are permanent disability benefits?
While rare, it is possible to get an injury that permanently impairs your ability to work. If this is your case, you may apply for permanent disability benefits (PDB). The amount of PDB you may receive depends on the following factors:
- The date and time of your injury, age and occupation
- The type of your disability
- The findings of a qualified medical evaluator regarding your impairment level
- The result of the formula that calculates your final benefit amount
With the final amount calculated, the disability evaluator and judge will determine your rate of pay and number of payable weeks.
Proceeding with your application
You may apply for disability benefits online in California. The official government websites may also provide helpful guides that could assist with your application.
The process can be complex. Despite the convenient resources available, it is still possible to encounter specific issues that could complicate your application process. An experienced attorney can provide insight into your cases and explain the options available to you.