When you are injured at work, your employer is required to pay you workers’ compensation benefits in Riverdale. These benefits include all your medical care as well as income benefits while you recover from your injury and are unable to work.
But how are Georgia workers’ compensation benefits calculated and how can you be sure that you receiving the maximum benefits that you deserve?
Our expert Riverdale workers’ compensation lawyers will assist you in understanding and calculating the benefits that are due to you. Call the Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Coalition at 470-518-5026 today for a free consultation!
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Are There Workers’ Compensation Medical Benefit Limits in Georgia?
There are no limits to how much your employer must pay for the medical care that you require after you have been injured in the workplace. However, you are restricted to receiving medical care from a doctor who forms part of the panel of physicians that your employer will provide to you.
The panel of physicians are doctors who have been authorized by your employer’s insurance carrier to provide medical care. If you do not use a doctor on the panel of physicians, you will forfeit your medical benefits and you will need to pay your own medical expenses or bills.
What Are the Workers’ Compensation Income Limits in Georgia?
Currently, the maximum amount that you can receive on a weekly basis for a work-related injury that occurred on or before 1 July 2019 is $675. For injuries that occurred before 1 July 2019, the limits were as follows:
- Before 1 July, 2016 the limit was $575.
- Before 1 July, 2015 the limit was $550.
- Before 1 July, 2013 the limit was $500.
- Before 1 July, 2007 the limit was $450.
- Before 1 July, 2005 the limit was $425.
- Before 1 July, 2003 the limit was $400.
These limits are calculated as of the date that the injury occurred. This means that if you were injured before 1 July 2015, then your benefits do not increase when the limits are raised in the future. You will continue to receive either the calculated benefit or a maximum of the benefit for the period in which you were injured.
For assistance in calculating the maximum benefits that you should be receiving from your employer for workers’ compensation, let us know.
Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Riverdale
The amount of income benefit that you receive every week may also be dependent on the type and extent of the injury that you sustained. If you are unable to return to work in your full former capacity and will be earning less than you did before your injury, your doctor will give you a disability rating. The disability rating will determine what benefits you receive.
Types of Workers’ Comp Benefits include:
Temporary Total Disability (TTD) Benefits in Georgia
You are entitled to receive TTD benefits if you are unable to work for a period of 7 days or more. You will receive 2/3 of your average weekly wages or $675 – whichever is the lowest until you achieve maximum medical improvement (MMI). MMI is where you have reached a point that further improvement is not possible with medical treatment.
There is a further limit of 400 weeks of benefits that is placed on a TTD. Once you have reached MMI, your doctor will determine if you are permanently disabled and give you an appropriate disability rating if it is pertinent.
Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) Benefits in Georgia
If you are able to work but your income is less than it was before you injury, then you are entitled to TPD benefits. This is calculated as 2/3rds of your average wages less the amount that you are currently earning. For example, if 2/3rds of your average weekly wages is $350 and you are earning $250 after your injury, then you will receive $100 in benefits. You can receive TPD benefits for a total of 350 weeks following your injury.
Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) Benefits in Georgia
If you are able to work after you receive a PPD rating from your doctor, you are entitled to receive partial benefits from your employer. The benefits you receive depend on the severity of the injury and what part of the body is affected and assigned a percentage. This will determine how much benefit you receive and the period over which you will receive benefits.
Permanent Total Disability (PTD) Benefits in Georgia
If you receive A PTD rating after you have achieved MMI, then you are unable to work in any capacity and will receive PTD benefits. These benefits and the period that you will receive compensation are calculated according to the percentage of the disability relative to the area of the body that is affected.
The maximum period for receiving PTD benefits is 300 weeks. For example, if you have a spinal injury that results in a 50% disability of your entire body and prevents you from working, you will receive 150 weeks of workers’ compensation benefits.
How Are Workers’ Compensation Income Benefits Calculated In Georgia?
Workers’ compensation benefits in Riverdale are calculated as 2/3rds of your average wages or a maximum of $675 per week. This is for injuries that occurred as of 1 July, 2019.
Your average wage is calculated as the total wages that you received for 13 weeks before your injury divided by 13. This is the amount you will receive every week. However, if this amount is above $675, then you will only receive $675 a week.
If you have not worked for your employer for a period of 13 weeks, then your average wage will be reduced by the number of weeks that you were not employed with the company.
Your income benefits must commence within 7 days (1 week) of reporting the injury and the claim being submitted to your employers’ insurance carrier.
Are Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Georgia Taxed?
Workers’ compensation benefits are generally not taxable in the state of Georgia. However, there are some circumstances under which the benefits can be deemed as an income and therefore taxed. To find out more about the tax implications on your workers’ comp benefits, contact the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at 470-518-5026 .
Let Us Help You Get the Maximum Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Calculating your workers’ compensation benefits in Riverdale to ensure that you are receiving the maximum amount due to you can be a challenge. For assistance with the calculation and ensuring that your employer or their insurance carrier is paying you accordingly, contact the Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Coalition to schedule an appointment today.
Your initial consultation is free, and we only get paid if we recover benefits for you. Call 470-518-5026 or use our contact form to get started.
