Temporary Total Disability Benefits (TTD)
• TTD benefits are payment to an injured worker for the time they're off work recovering from a work-related injury.
• TTD benefits are calculated at two-thirds of an injured worker’s average weekly wage.
• The higher an injured worker’s average weekly wage, the higher his TTD benefit check
• Make sure there is an appropriate average weekly wage calculation.
• Current maximum TTD benefit is $1,178.48.
• Current minimum TTD benefit is $200.00 if the injured worker is single.
• Minimum TTD benefit increases based on the injured worker’s marital status and number of children.
• Minimum TTD benefits are as follows:
o Married $230,000
o Married plus on child $260,000
o Married plus two children $290,000
o Married plus three children $300,000
• If an injured worker was working only part-time and his average weekly wage was less than the minimum, then his entire average weekly wage will be used as the TTD benefits.
When Do TTD Benefits Start and Stop?
• TTD benefits will start to be paid 3 days after the injury and if the injured worker is able to return to work within 14 days of the original injury, the injured worker will only received TTD benefits from the 3rd to the 14th day.
• If the injured worker is off work more than 14 days, the Worker’s Compensation Act requires the insurance carrier to then pay TTD benefits for the first 3 days the employee was unable to return to work.
• TTD payments stop when the injured employee returns to work full duty without restrictions or reaches maximum medical improvement (MMI).
Maintenance Benefits
• The Act provides that an injured worker who reaches maximum medical improvement is entitled to receive “maintenance” benefits if
o He is unable to return to work at his former position as a result of the work injury
o And he is undergoing vocational rehabilitation.
• The maintenance benefit is paid at the same rate as the previous TTD benefits.
Overpayment of TTD Benefits
• On the rare occasion when an injured worker is paid more TTD benefits than he is entitled to under the Act, the insurance companies have fought hard to obtain repayment for that money.
• There is an appellate court case which states the worker’s compensation insurance carrier is entitled to a credit for the overpayment of TTD benefits against the permanency award, that being the PPD benefit.
To get more information about your injuries and benefits under the Illinois Worker’s Compensation Act, call the Giacoletto Law Firm at 618-346-8841 or toll free at 888-346-8841 to speak today with an experienced Illinois worker's compensation lawyer centrally located in Collinsville, Illinois.