Temporary Total
Disability (TTD)
Benefits

Workers’ Compensation Claims in Illinois

According to the Fiscal Year 2014 Annual Report by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, there were over 200,000 work-related injuries reported to employers across the state in that year alone. While the workers’ compensation system is supposed to protect the worker in circumstances involving workplace injury (which, as these statistics show, happens often among workers in Illinois), navigating the claims process can be difficult. For this reason, you should contact a workers’ compensation attorney right away for your injury claim – particularly if you think that your claim may involve temporary total disability benefits.

Benefits of Workers’ Compensation

According to Illinois state workers’ compensation laws, the following benefits may be entitled to victims of workplace injuries:

• Medical care for the injuries suffered;
• Temporary partial disability if the worker needs a modified workload while recovering, but is still able to work;
• Temporary total disability if the worker is unable to work during recovery;
• Permanent partial disability if the worker is still able to work, but the injuries lead to permanent disabilities; and
• Permanent total disability if the worker is unable to continue to work altogether.

While much can be said about each of these benefits, temporary total disability (TTD) is one of the most commonly utilized benefits, and will be discussed here.

Temporary Total Disability – The Facts

Temporary total disability benefits are paid to the injured employee who must lose time from work to recover from a work-related injury or disease. Unlike in claims that qualify for temporary partial disability, the worker is unable to work (even at a reduced or lightened workload) during the recovery period. Rather, the employee is entitled to collect TTD benefits until he or she is able to return to work duties that are reasonably available to him or her.

At Malman Law, our workers’ compensation attorneys often hear the following questions regarding TTD benefits and eligibility. Keep in mind that, while this information is intended to be informative, it should only be used in conjunction with legal advice specific to you or your family’s situation.

How Are TTD Benefits Calculated?

TTD benefits are calculated to be two-thirds (66 2/3%) of the employee’s gross average weekly wage, which is still subject to certain limits. The average is based on the employee’s wages during the year before the injury or exposure. The rate is fixed at the time of the injury, and does not change, even if the employee’s salary or statewide average weekly wages change.

How Are TTD Benefits Paid?

TTD benefits are paid at the same interval by which the employee was paid before the injury or exposure. It may take as long as 14 days from the time when the employer received notice of the injury before payments begin.

TTD payments are not paid for the three work days lost to a work-related injury or disease, unless the disability continues for 14 or more calendar days.