Navigating the complexities of the workers' compensation system can be challenging. Our law firm is dedicated to helping you understand your rights and the various types of compensation benefits available. Here's a breakdown of the different benefit types:
Temporary Total Compensation (TT)
- Payable to injured workers who are unable to work due to their injuries.
- Duration of this benefit is not fixed—it varies from a few weeks to several months or even longer, depending on the nature and severity of the work-related injuries.
- Compensation begins on the eighth day after the accident. If the injury / disability lasts for more than 14 consecutive days, payment will be issued to cover the first seven days as well.
- The compensation is calculated based on the injured worker's wages at the time of the injury and can't exceed the statewide full and average weekly wage. Initially, the worker receives 72% of their full weekly wage. After 12 weeks off work, this becomes 66.67% of their average weekly wage.
Percentage of Permanent Partial Disability (PPD)
- Compensation for injuries that result in permanent limitation or damage.
- The initial PPD application can only be filed 26 weeks post-injury or 26 weeks after the date of the last compensation was received, whichever is later. However, subsequent applications for PPD applications for increased impairment don't need this waiting period but do require medical proof of the increased impairment.
- A hearing might be necessary if there's a dispute over the assessed impairment percentage.
Permanent Total Disability (PTD)
- Intended for extremely severe disabilities, rendering the injured worker incapable of ever returning to work.
- Such claims usually require a hearing before the Ohio Industrial Commission for the award determination, although, in rare cases, PTD applications might be granted without a hearing.
- These benefits are payable for the rest of the injured worker's life.
Living Maintenance
- Living maintenance benefits are designed for injured workers participating in approved rehabilitation programs. Vocational rehabilitation coordinators provide assistance while receiving this benefit.
Living Maintenance Wage Loss
- For those injured workers who completed vocational rehabilitation, but experience a wage loss compared to their pre-injury earnings, living maintenance wage loss benefits are available. Similar to living maintenance, vocational rehabilitation coordinators offer assistance with this benefit.
Wage Loss
- Wage loss benefits are for workers who have returned to work but experience reduced earnings as compared to their pre-injury earnings / average weekly wage as a direct result of restrictions from their claim’s injury / allowed condition(s).
Death Benefits
- In tragic claims where a workplace accident or occupational disease results in the death of an injured worker, death benefits are available for dependents. This becomes a dependent's claim, usually filed by the spouse or other dependents of the injured worker.
Scheduled Loss
- Scheduled loss benefits cover amputation, loss of use, ankylosis of specific body (i.e., fingers, hands, arms, legs, feet, etc.), and loss of vision or hearing.
- Typically requires a motion and often involves a hearing for the award determination.
Facial Disfigurement
- Compensation for workers who have sustained visible injuries to the face or head that could impact their employability.
- The maximum award can range up to $10,000 for claims arising on or after June 30, 2006.
If you have questions about your workers' compensation benefits, we encourage you to contact the Justice Law Firm today to learn more about how we can help you obtain the benefits you deserve. We welcome your call at 614-543-1320, or we invite you to complete our online contact form at any time.