Suppose you’ve suffered a work-related illness or injury; you can use a safety net for your medical expenses as you take time to recover. With sufficient financial support, you won’t have to worry about the unexpected medical bills overwhelming you and your family.
Furthermore, you can take the time you need to recover fully and only return to work when you’re able to perform your pre-injury job duties. But how long can you expect workers’ compensation to pay you in New Jersey?
Temporary total disability (TTD) benefits
Suppose you sustain a temporary total disability following your work-related accident. In that case, you qualify for TTD benefits. These benefits can offer you the financial cushioning you need during the period when you temporarily cannot earn an income.
Your condition is considered a TTD when you’re completely unable to perform your pre-injury work duties for at least seven consecutive days. When you qualify for TTD benefits, you can expect to receive 70% of what you normally earn until you’re able to resume work. You can expect to receive TTD benefits for up to 400 weeks.
Temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits
As the name suggests, you are termed to be temporarily partially disabled when you can resume work despite your injuries but cannot perform at your full capacity. You should expect TPD benefits to make up for the difference between your pre-injury wages and your current earnings.
Permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits
Suppose you end up with a partial injury that there’s little chance to recover from; you may qualify for PPD benefits. These benefits are supposed to compensate you for your compromised earning potential. The Garden State categorizes PPDs as scheduled and non-scheduled injuries. Scheduled injuries have predefined benefit durations, while non-scheduled injuries are assessed individually.
Permanent total disability (PTD) benefits
At the end of the spectrum is a total and permanent disability that you will likely not recover from for 450 weeks. If you still don’t recover from a PTD at the end of the 450 weeks, you may continue receiving life benefits, subject to periodic medical evaluations.
When you sustain a work-related injury in the Garden State, the severity of your injury and how long it will impact your earning capacity both help to determine determine how long workers’ compensation will pay you. To learn more about the nuances of these benefits, consider consulting a trusted legal team.