Example Types of Income Benefits

Medical Only: 

• Workers’ compensation pays 100 percent of medical costs for injured workers and pays cash benefits for lost work time after a three-to-seven-day waiting period.
• Most workers’ compensation cases do not involve lost work time greater than the waiting period for cash benefits.

Temporary Disability: 

• Cash benefits differ according to the duration and severity of the worker’s disability.
• Temporary total disability (TTD) benefits are paid when a work-related injury or illness temporarily prevents a worker from returning to the pre-injury job or another job for the same employer for which the worker is otherwise qualified.
• Most workers who receive TTD benefits fully recover and return to work, at which time benefits end.
• In some cases, however, injured workers return to work before they reach maximum medical improvement, often with restricted duties and lower or differential pay.

Permanent Disability:

• If an injured worker has severe impairments that are judged to be permanent after he or she reaches maximum medical improvement, permanent disability benefits may be paid.
• Permanent total disability (PTD) benefits are paid to workers who are unable to work because of a work-related injury or illness.
• Permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits are paid when the worker has physical impairments that, although permanent, do not completely limit his or her ability to work.

Fatalities:

• Workers’ compensation programs also pay death benefits when a work-related illness or injury is fatal.
• The benefits typically include an amount for funeral and burial expenses and cash benefits for the worker’s family or dependents.
• For workers who die without dependents, benefits are limited to funeral and burial expenses.