What does TTD Mean?

TTD is a common term in the area of workers’ compensation law. Below, we’ll explain what TTD means and how it impacts you after a work-related accident.

What does TTD Mean?

TTD means “temporary total disability.” When an employee is hurt at work, they may have access to TTD benefits under their employer’s workers’ compensation insurance.

The laws for TTD vary depending on the state where the employee works. In Georgia, you can begin receiving temporary total disability if you are unable to work for at least seven days because of your work injury (Georgia Code § 34-9-220). These benefits typically continue (up to a maximum) until you are able to return to work.

Temporary Total Disability (TTD) Benefits

In Georgia, here is what you need to know about temporary total disability (TTD):

• It is paid weekly at two-thirds of the average weekly wage you were making before your injury.
• The amount you can receive is capped at $675 per week—and must exceed $50 per week.
• TTD is payable for a maximum of 400 weeks (Georgia Code § 34-9-261).

If you suffer a catastrophic injury, you may be eligible for TTD benefits much longer—until your condition changes for the better. Catastrophic injuries are very serious, such as injuries to the brain, spinal cord, or skull, loss of limb, or loss of ability to talk.

Filing for TTD Benefits

To receive TTD, you must:

• Meet the qualifications for workers’ compensation
• Report your work injury to your supervisor as soon as possible (and no later than 30 days from the date of the injury)
• Seek medical treatment according to the list of doctors under your employer’s workers’ comp policy
• File a workers’ compensation claim with the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation (SBWC) and send a copy to your employer and their insurance company

Receiving TTD Benefits

You must be unable to work (because of your injury) for at least seven days to be eligible for TTD payments. If you are out of work for 21 consecutive days, you will receive payment for those first seven days as well. You will receive the benefits weekly, typically as a check in the mail.

Your benefits should continue until one of the following happens:

• Your doctor clears you to return to work.
• You have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI), which is the point at which your condition has improved as much as it’s going to with medical intervention.
• You have reached the 400-week limit for TTD in Georgia.

TTD payments are also generally not considered taxable income.

In most cases, TTD is no longer payable when you are healed enough to return to work. Injured workers should be very sure that their condition has improved as much as it can with treatment before agreeing to return to work. Insurance companies will often look for ways to say you are healed before you have actually received all the treatment you need. They are hoping to improve their bottom line, but this does no favors for you.

To make sure you are receiving the full extent of workers’ compensation benefits you deserve, contact a Georgia workers’ compensation for help. There is no fee to begin working with them, and they don’t get paid unless they win you money. (At John Foy & Associates, our consultation is also FREE—so no risk to you.

Other Types of Disability Under Workers’ Compensation

What happens if you are able to go back to work but can no longer perform the same job duties? If your injury now prevents you from doing certain types of work, limited your hours, or lead to a reduced wage, you can receive temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits.

Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) Benefits

TPD benefits are paid at two-thirds of the difference between the average weekly wage you were making before the injury and the average weekly wage you make after the injury. TPD benefits are capped at $383 per week and provided for up to 350 weeks from the date you were injured.

The doctor you see will usually say when you’re able to return to work and on what limited basis. For example, they might say you should only continue with a schedule of four hours per day.

Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) Benefits

A permanent partial disability (PPD) refers to a worker with a permanent impairment who can still perform certain types of work. In Georgia, you can also receive PPD when you have suffered “loss or loss of use of body members or from the partial loss of use of the employee’s body” (Georgia Code § 34-9-263).

PPD benefits are calculated based on the affected body part and level of impairment. A workers’ compensation lawyer can help you determine whether or not you qualify for PPD through workers’ comp.

Death Benefits

In the event of a worker’s death from a workplace accident, there are workers’ comp benefits available for dependents. Minor children and the spouse of the deceased worker can receive two-thirds of what the worker’s average weekly wage had been. Workers’ comp also helps cover funeral and burial expenses.

Temporary total disability benefits are only an option if you cannot work at all for a certain period of time above seven days. However, even if you meet these specifications, you might experience difficulty getting the benefits you deserve. It’s best to speak with a workers’ compensation lawyer as soon as possible after your injury to make sure your legal rights are protected.

Talk to a Georgia Workers’ Compensation Lawyer for Free Today

At John Foy & Associates, we have been helping injured workers obtain the temporary total disability benefits (and other benefits) from workers’ compensation for over 20 years. Our lawyers do not take a fee unless we win you money, so there’s no risk in working with us. We also start with a FREE consultation to discuss the details.

To get started with your FREE consultation and case evaluation today or contact us online.