If you’ve sustained a workplace injury, you need to focus on more than your recovery. You’ll also want to make sure that you’re receiving the appropriate workers compensation benefits. You may be eligible to collect disability benefits that will help to make up for your loss of wages. At Workers Compensation Lawyers Coalition, our Acworth Workers Comp Attorneys can make sure you receive everything that you deserve.
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Georgia Workers Compensation Income Limits
In Georgia, workers compensation benefits are designed to be equivalent to two-thirds of your highest possible average weekly wage. However, there are strict limits on the maximum funds that an injured party can receive. These limits vary based on the date the injury occurred.
For injuries that took place on or after July 1, 2019, the maximum weekly TTD payment is $675. The maximum TPD payment is $450, while the maximum payment for PPD is $675. The maximum weekly payments for injuries that occurred on or before June 30, 2019 are capped at a lower rate.
Types of Acworth Workers Compensation Benefits
Temporary Total Disability Benefits In GA Workers Comp (TTD)
If you are unable to return to work for a period of time due to a work-related illness or injury, you may qualify for TTD benefits. These benefits are sometimes referred to as income or wage loss benefits. To receive these payments, you must qualify for worker’s comp, file a claim, and seek medical treatment.
Georgia law requires workers compensation insurance companies to cover treatment-related to workplace injuries. You should not have to pay any costs related to your treatment out-of-pocket. Once you’ve seen a doctor, and the doctor has stated that you should not immediately return to work because of your injury, you should be eligible to receive payments.
Georgia has a seven-day waiting period for disability benefits, which means you won’t receive payments for the first week that you miss from work. However, if you miss more than 21 consecutive workdays because of your injury, you will be eligible to receive retroactive payments for that first week.
Temporary Partial Disability Benefits In GA Workers Comp (TPD)
In some cases, your injury or illness may not keep you out of work completely. Instead, you may have to work reduced hours or take on limited duties at work. If this leads to lower wages, you may qualify for TPD benefits.
TPD is calculated by comparing your average weekly wage prior to the injury against the average weekly wage you are earning now. You are eligible to receive two-thirds of the difference between these wages, with a maximum weekly payment of $450.
These benefits are typically paid out each week, but some workers compensation insurance companies may opt to pay benefits every thirteen weeks. No matter what payment schedule is selected, you will receive the same amount of funds. You can receive TPD benefits for up to 350 weeks from the date of your injury.
Permanent Partial Disability Benefits In GA Workers Comp (PPD)
While it often takes time to heal from an illness or injury, patients eventually reach maximum medical improvement (MMI). This means that a patient is not expected to see further improvement in their condition. At this point, patients may be eligible for PPD benefits.
Georgia statute O.C.G.A. 34-9-263 describes permanent partial disability as permanent loss of the use of parts of the body. Patients that have reached MMI are examined by a physician that assigns them an impairment rating. The amount of compensation patients can receive varies based on the part of the body that was injured as well as the severity of the injury.
Loss or loss of use of a big toe entitles a patient to 30 weeks of compensation. Loss of an upper extremity, like an elbow or arm, entitles patients to 225 weeks of compensation. Once your PPD rating has been calculated, you may receive weekly payments or a lump sum.
Permanent Total Disability Benefits In GA Workers Comp (PTD)
Many states have a category of benefits known as PTD, but that is not the case in Georgia. However, if you have suffered a work-related injury that has lead to loss or loss of use of multiple parts of the body, you may be able to receive total disability benefits on a permanent basis.
If you are eligible to receive these benefits, you would continue to receive the same weekly payments that you qualify for under TTD. However, these benefits would not expire after 400 weeks. You will be entitled to collect weekly benefits for the rest of your life.
How Are Acworth Workers Compensation Benefits Calculated?
Workers compensation benefits are calculated based on the average weekly wage that you earned in the last year. This calculation will include overtime pay, bonuses, and any additional pay you may have received from your employer during this time. You are eligible to receive two-thirds of the wages you were earning prior to your injury.
Are Acworth Workers Compensation Benefits Taxed?
While workers compensation benefits are not taxable, you will still be expected to pay taxes on any wages that you are earning during this time. For example, if you have returned to work, and your wages are being supplemented by TPD payments, only the wages being paid by your employer will be taxed.
If you accept a lump sum or a settlement, those funds will not be subject to state or federal taxes. Workers comp is not considered to be income, which means you do not need to declare either weekly payments or lump sums when you are completing your state and federal taxes.
Ideally, it would be easy for you to collect the compensation you are owed after an on-the-job injury. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Workers compensation insurance companies often prioritize the best interests of companies over workers that have been injured.
That’s why you need to make sure your rights are being protected by an experienced legal team. Workers Compensation Lawyers Coalition will provide you with an aggressive defense and will ensure that your needs are met throughout this process. Call today at 470-518-5026 for a free case assessment.
