Disability Benefits
What are TTD benefits?
Temporary total disability, or TTD, benefits are the weekly checks paid to an injured worker who is "disabled." A worker is disabled when he has been written out of work by his doctor or his employer cannot accommodate the light duty restrictions assigned by his doctor. After a 7-day waiting period, a disabled worker is paid weekly benefits of two-thirds of his average weekly wage. These benefits continue for as long as an injured worker remains out of work as a result of his injuries.
How is my average weekly wage calculated?
A worker's "average weekly wage" is usually calculated by determining his total pre-tax wages -- including overtime, bonuses, and payments in lieu of wages -- during the 52-week period prior to the date of injury. That sum is then divided by 52.
If the worker has been employed with the employer for less than 52 weeks, the number of weeks the employee actually worked is used. However, if that time period is so short that using it would be unfair to either the employee or the employer, the average weekly wage of a comparable employee can be used. If no comparable employee is available, a wage is determined that is fair to both the employee and the employer.
Is there a waiting period for receiving TTD benefits?
There is a 7-day waiting period before a worker is entitled to receive TTD benefits. The 7 days do not have to be consecutive. Often, employers will allow the injured worker to use vacation and sick time for the 7-day period so that the worker is not without pay.
If an injured worker properly remains out of work for more than 21 days, he or she will then be entitled to compensation for the 7-day waiting period.
How long do TTD benefits last?
TTD benefits last for as long as an injured worker is "disabled" as a result of a work-related injury. In the context of workers' compensation, an injured worker is disabled if he is incapable of earning the wages earned before the work-related injury.
The injured worker is entitled to TTD benefits so long as he is written out of work by his doctor or for so long as he is on light-duty restrictions that his employer cannot accommodate. If the employer cannot accommodate the worker's restrictions, the worker does have a duty to make a reasonable effort to obtain suitable employment. In the event of permanent disability, TTD benefits can continue until the worker's death.
What are TPD benefits?
Temporary partial disability, or "TPD," benefits are paid when an injured worker has returned to work at a lower wage than he earned before the injury. The injured worker is entitled to two-thirds of the difference between his pre-injury average weekly wage and the amount he earns upon returning to work. An injured worker can receive TPD benefits up to 300 weeks after the date of injury.
What are "rating" or PPD benefits?
Injured workers are often assigned a permanent partial impairment rating by their doctors after the work-related injury has healed. The rating is meant to reflect the permanent damage to the injured body part. Based on the rating assigned by his doctor, the injured worker may be entitled to a lump sum payment of benefits. These benefits are sometimes called permanent partial disability, or "PPD," benefits.
At some point, the worker may be asked to make an election between wage-loss benefits and rating benefits. Under North Carolina law, workers are entitled to their more favorable remedy.
Temporary total disability, or TTD, benefits are the weekly checks paid to an injured worker who is "disabled." A worker is disabled when he has been written out of work by his doctor or his employer cannot accommodate the light duty restrictions assigned by his doctor. After a 7-day waiting period, a disabled worker is paid weekly benefits of two-thirds of his average weekly wage. These benefits continue for as long as an injured worker remains out of work as a result of his injuries.
How is my average weekly wage calculated?
A worker's "average weekly wage" is usually calculated by determining his total pre-tax wages -- including overtime, bonuses, and payments in lieu of wages -- during the 52-week period prior to the date of injury. That sum is then divided by 52.
If the worker has been employed with the employer for less than 52 weeks, the number of weeks the employee actually worked is used. However, if that time period is so short that using it would be unfair to either the employee or the employer, the average weekly wage of a comparable employee can be used. If no comparable employee is available, a wage is determined that is fair to both the employee and the employer.
Is there a waiting period for receiving TTD benefits?
There is a 7-day waiting period before a worker is entitled to receive TTD benefits. The 7 days do not have to be consecutive. Often, employers will allow the injured worker to use vacation and sick time for the 7-day period so that the worker is not without pay.
If an injured worker properly remains out of work for more than 21 days, he or she will then be entitled to compensation for the 7-day waiting period.
How long do TTD benefits last?
TTD benefits last for as long as an injured worker is "disabled" as a result of a work-related injury. In the context of workers' compensation, an injured worker is disabled if he is incapable of earning the wages earned before the work-related injury.
The injured worker is entitled to TTD benefits so long as he is written out of work by his doctor or for so long as he is on light-duty restrictions that his employer cannot accommodate. If the employer cannot accommodate the worker's restrictions, the worker does have a duty to make a reasonable effort to obtain suitable employment. In the event of permanent disability, TTD benefits can continue until the worker's death.
What are TPD benefits?
Temporary partial disability, or "TPD," benefits are paid when an injured worker has returned to work at a lower wage than he earned before the injury. The injured worker is entitled to two-thirds of the difference between his pre-injury average weekly wage and the amount he earns upon returning to work. An injured worker can receive TPD benefits up to 300 weeks after the date of injury.
What are "rating" or PPD benefits?
Injured workers are often assigned a permanent partial impairment rating by their doctors after the work-related injury has healed. The rating is meant to reflect the permanent damage to the injured body part. Based on the rating assigned by his doctor, the injured worker may be entitled to a lump sum payment of benefits. These benefits are sometimes called permanent partial disability, or "PPD," benefits.
At some point, the worker may be asked to make an election between wage-loss benefits and rating benefits. Under North Carolina law, workers are entitled to their more favorable remedy.
