Income Benefits for Lost Earnings

Our Atlanta Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Can Help You

Under Georgia workers’ compensation laws, injured workers may recover compensation for lost income/wages. These benefits are known as income benefits for lost earnings and they are in addition to medical benefits. There are several different categories of income benefits for lost earnings; the benefits you may be able to receive will depend on numerous factors, including the extent and scope of your injuries, the amount of time you are unable to work, and more..

Contact the Atlanta workers’ compensation attorneys at Whiteman, Hamilton & Conklin, LLC for a free consultation regarding your claim. Call 404-800-4661 to get started.

Determining Eligibility for Income Benefits

In order to be eligible to receive income benefits for lost earnings, you must first be out of work for a period of at least seven calendar days. If your injury prevents you from returning to work for a period of 21 consecutive days, you are entitled to receive income benefits for the first seven days, as well.

If your injuries prevent you from working temporarily but you make enough of a recovery to eventually return to work with restrictions, you could be entitled to receive temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits.

Income benefits are divided into two categories:

• Temporary Total Disability Benefits: Workers who have sustained a temporary total disability (TTD) are expected to be able to return to work at some point. Benefits are based on two-thirds of the worker’s gross average weekly pay, which is itself determined based on the worker’s gross earnings in the 13 weeks immediately prior to the injury. Currently, the maximum weekly TTD amount for injuries that occurred on or after July 1, 2023 is $800.
• Temporary Partial Disability Benefits: If a worker is expected to recover enough from his/her injuries to return to work but in a limited capacity, he/she is eligible to receive temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits. The amount the worker can recover is based on two-thirds of the difference between the worker’s average weekly pay at the old job and his/her average weekly pay at the new job. For injuries that occurred on or after July 1, 2016, the maximum weekly TPD amount is $533.

If you were injured on the job and you are not expected to make enough of a recovery to return to work in any capacity, you may be eligible to receive permanent disability benefits if your workers’ compensation claim is designated “catastrophic.” Our Atlanta workers’ compensation attorneys can help you understand your rights and work to secure the full benefits you deserve.

Contact our firm today at 404-800-4661 for a free initial consultation. Se habla español.