Temporary vs Permanent Disability Benefits Explained

Dangerous jobs like those in construction, farming, or other lines of industrial work are the ones most likely to cause injuries. While it’s true you can be hurt in any workplace, the likelihood that you will need temporary or permanent disability benefits is higher in these types of professions.

If you were hurt at work, you may be wondering how to secure your workers’ compensation benefits. There may be a discussion of temporary and permanent disability benefits, and it’s important that you understand the differences between them.

Examining Different Types of Workers’ Comp Disability Benefits in Florida

There are four types of workers’ compensation benefits for those who are hurt on the job or diagnosed with a work-related illness. These include temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, permanent total disability, and permanent impairment benefits. You may be able to receive other benefits such as vocational rehabilitation and mileage reimbursement.

Temporary Total Disability

A temporary total disability means that you are unable to return to work on a temporary basis due to your injuries. With this type of disability, you are entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits for the first seven days or your disability only if it lasts for 21 or more days. These benefits will be paid retroactively for your first week.

Since it’s temporary — meaning you will recover to a certain degree in time — these disability benefits are limited to 104 weeks or you have reached a point of recovery known as the maximum medical improvement. This means you’ll be at the best possible point where no further improvements are expected. You’ll get two-thirds of your average weekly earnings, though it can’t exceed the maximum amount set by the state, which is $971 per week.

Temporary Partial Disability

If you can only return to work in a modified capacity after your work accident, or even to a job that involves light work, you can get temporary partial disability benefits. Partial disability coverage allows you to collect the loss of income associated with this partial disability. You will get only two-thirds the difference between what you made before the work accident.

Permanent Total Disability

After your medical treatments come to an end, you will be examined again for permanent disability by a doctor authorized by the workers’ compensation insurer. At this point, if the doctor deems that you have a total permanent disability, you may continue to collect your workers’ compensation benefits for your lifetime.

If you suffered a catastrophic injury that caused you to need an amputation, you would automatically be put on permanent total disability benefits. These benefits total two-thirds of your normal wage but can’t surpass the same maximum for temporary total disability in Florida.

Permanent Impairment

An authorized doctor with workers’ compensation may determine that you have a permanent impairment from your work-related injury. If that is the case, you would then be given a permanent impairment rating, a percentage used to calculate these benefits. In Florida, these benefits are paid at 75% of your temporary total disability rate but can’t exceed the same maximum as permanent total disability.

In the event that you are able to return to work, your permanent impairment benefits will be reduced based on the updated percentage.

Why the Type of Disability Benefits Matter

Sometimes, injured workers are put in the wrong category of disability benefits. This may be due to an error or an initial misunderstanding of the extent of the injuries. In either case, this could result in getting cut off from the benefits you need.

You may need the full term of those benefits to help support your household while you recover from your injuries. It may be necessary to file a workers’ comp lawsuit to help you get what you deserve for your workplace accident. It’s a smart idea to speak to an attorney regarding your legal options to determine the best way to proceed.

If you’re having trouble collecting your benefits, a lawyer can help. 1-800-Injured is an attorney and medical referral service. We can help you find professionals in your area to assist you.