This is a question we hear all the time, and we are happy to provide our clients with an informed response. Because the answer depends on the specifics of your case, there is no way to give a universal answer. However, whether you collect benefits for life or for a limited amount of time will depend on whether you are determined to be permanently or temporarily disabled. What’s the difference? I’ll explain.
Your Benefits Should Continue for as Long as You Are Unable to Work
If you are injured on the job and are unable to work for at least 14 consecutive days, you can apply for workers’ compensation benefits to pay injury-related medical costs and lost wages. If you are determined to be totally disabled—meaning you cannot physically perform any kind of work—you should be awarded full compensation. The large majority of claims start out as temporary. That means you are expected to recover and return to work one day. If you never fully recover, you could be approved for permanent total disability benefits. The duration of benefits for each type of claim is as follows:
- Temporary total disability (TTD). Once an independent medical exam determines that you have reached maximum medical improvement, you will be released to return to work. At this point, your TTD benefits will cease. If you are unable to find a job or earn the same income you earned before the injury, you might be eligible for wage loss benefits to supplement your earned income.
- Permanent total disability (PTD). If you reach a point where it is determined that you will never be able to return to work, you should seek PTD benefits with the help of a workers’ comp attorney. These payments will continue for the rest of your life.
In either situation, a workers’ comp attorney can make sure you are getting all the benefits to which you are entitled.
Contact Monast Law Office With Your Questions
If you need more information about how long your workers’ comp payments will continue, contact our office, and we would be happy to assist you. We are committed to helping injured workers qualify for the benefits they deserve.
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