What Are Temporary Total Disability Benefits?

When a worker in Maryland suffers an injury on the job that prevents them from performing their duties, they may be entitled to Temporary Total Disability (TTD) benefits. This is support that is available under state workers’ compensation law. It is designed to provide financial support during the recovery period and TTD benefits are a financial lifeline for many injured workers.

To learn more about TTD benefits, including eligibility criteria and benefit calculation, have a conversation with a Baltimore personal injury lawyer. After a work injury, it’s important to have a legal professional on your side who makes your recovery and financial well-being top priorities.

Eligibility Criteria and Calculation of TTD Benefits

TTD benefits are payments made to employees who are completely unable to work for a temporary period due to a work-related injury or illness. To qualify, an injured worker must have a work-related injury or illness, be unable to perform their job duties due to the injury or illness, and their disability must be expected to improve with time, allowing the worker to eventually return to work.

The amount of TTD benefits an injured worker receives is based on their average weekly wage. Typically a worker will be able to access two-thirds (66.67%) of that wage amount as they recover. That said, there are minimum and maximum limits set by the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission and these numbers are adjusted annually based on the state’s average weekly wage.

For example, if a worker’s average weekly wage prior to an injury was $900, their TTD benefit would be approximately $600 per week. If this amount falls within the established minimum and maximum limits, it will be the benefit amount received.

Once TTD benefits are awarded, they continue until one of the following occurs:

• Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI). The worker’s condition has improved as much as it is expected to, according to medical evaluation.
• Return to work. The employee is able to resume their job or perform light-duty work approved by their physician.
• End of temporary disability. Health concerns have led to the temporary situation becoming permanent, meaning the worker will need to transition to Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) or Permanent Total Disability (PTD) benefits.

In Maryland, there is no specific time limit for TTD benefits, they continue as long as the worker is temporarily totally disabled and has not reached MMI.

How to File a Claim and Access Benefits

Immediately report any and all work-place injuries to your employer. You need to be sure an injury is documented. To access benefits, submit a claim with the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission, your employer should have the necessary forms on hand. If an employer or insurer disputes the severity or cause of the disability, be sure to connect with a Baltimore personal injury lawyer to protect your rights.

Has a workplace injury upended your ability to work? Talk to the attorneys at Iamele & Iamele, LLP. Consulting with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer can significantly improve your chances of receiving the benefits you deserve. Contact us to book a confidential appointment.