Temporary, Total, Partial, and Permanent Disability

When a worker gets injured on the job in Maryland, that worker may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Whether you are working in a retail store, in construction, in health care, or any other number of industries, your injuries may be compensable if they can show that their injury was arising out of and in the course of employment. Once an injured worker is approved for workers’ compensation benefits (meaning that their injury is compensable), they can begin receiving certain benefits that include coverage for medical care, as well as wage reimbursement benefits. In addition, injured workers may be eligible for workers’ compensation disability.

Disability payments under Maryland workers’ compensation law can be paid as temporary partial disability, temporary total disability, permanent partial disability, and permanent total disability. What are the differences among these types of disability benefits, and which should you anticipate being eligible for in your workers’ compensation case? Our Maryland workers’ compensation attorneys can explain in more detail.

Temporary Partial Disability 

Temporary partial disability payments are made to covered employees with compensable injuries who have a partial disability (i.e., they can still do some form of work but not the same work, or to the same degree, they could do prior to the injury) that is temporary (i.e., the employee is expected to recover).

For temporary partial disability, employees are paid 50 percent of the difference between their average weekly wage prior to the injury and the wage earning capacity of the covered employee in the same or other employment while partially disabled.

Temporary Total Disability 

Temporary total disability payments are made to covered employees with compensable injuries who have a total disability (i.e., they cannot do any work) that is temporary (i.e., the employee is expected to recover).

The employee will be compensated with two-thirds of their average weekly wage until they recover.

Permanent Partial Disability

 Permanent partial disability payments are made to covered employees with compensable injuries who have a partial disability (i.e., they can still do some form of work but not the same work, or to the same degree, they could do prior to the injury) that is permanent (i.e., the employee is not expected to recover).

Duration of the payment depends on the severity of the injury, and payment typically ranges from one-third to two-thirds of the employee’s average weekly wage prior to the injury.

Permanent Total Disability 

Permanent total disability payments are made to covered employees with compensable injuries who have a total disability (i.e., they cannot do any work) that is permanent (i.e., the employee is not expected to recover).

Payment for this disability includes two-thirds of the employee’s average weekly wage prior to the injury in addition to disability benefits only for permanent total disability.

Contact a Maryland Workers’ Compensation Attorney 

Were you injured at work in Maryland? If so, your injury may be compensable under Maryland workers’ compensation law. If you have any questions about seeking workers’ compensation benefits, or any questions about the type of disability payments you may be able to receive, one of the experienced Maryland workers’ compensation lawyers at the Law Offices of Steinhardt, Siskind and Lieberman, LLC can assist you. Contact us today to ask any questions you have or to begin working with a dedicated attorney on your workers’ compensation claim.

Source:

law.justia.com/codes/maryland/labor-and-employment/title-9/subtitle-6/