If you live paycheck to paycheck, you’ve got plenty of company.
To be sure, there are some people who do what financial counselors recommend and save enough to create a contingency fund to be accessed in emergencies. Most of us, however, lack such a resource – and are dependent on our wages to stay afloat financially.
In terms of financial stability, this obviously means a disruption in your wages caused by a work injury is a very serious matter.
In this post, we will discuss what level of wage replacement to expect from a workers’ compensation claim in Colorado.
Temporary disability benefits under the work comp system are intended to fill the void when your injury prevents you from working.
It is important to be aware, however, that there are actually two different types of workers’ comp benefits that go under the umbrella term “temporary disability.”
These two types are:
• Temporary total disability
• Temporary partial disability
A temporary partial disability (TPD) is when you are able to go back to work, but cannot do the same work you did before you got hurt. A temporary total disability (TDD) means you can’t perform your job at all.
In general, TDD benefits are structured to replace up to two-thirds of your wages, subject to certain limits.
One such limit is when an injured worker has reached the point of maximum medical improvement (MMI). But as we discussed in our April 21 post, it is possible to challenge MMI determinations. And it is also possible to apply for permanent disability benefits after reaching MMI.
When permanent disability is involved, eligibility for Social Security disability (SSD) benefits may also come into play. We discussed that issue in our March 21 post.
Obviously these distinctions between various types of benefits can get complicated. That is why it makes sense to get counsel from a knowledgeable workers’ compensation lawyer.
To learn more about our practice, please visit our page on lost wages.
