Getting hurt at work doesn’t always mean you stop working completely. Sometimes, you return but not in the same way or with the same number of hours.
Workers’ compensation helps cover the difference when you earn less after your injury. This type of support falls under temporary partial disability benefits.
What temporary partial disability covers
If you suffer an injury and only work part-time or take a lighter-duty role, your paycheck may shrink. Temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits help fill in some of that gap. North Carolina law gives you two-thirds of the difference between your average weekly wage before the injury and your current wage while you recover. These benefits last as long as you make medical progress and haven’t returned to full earning capacity, up to a maximum of 500 weeks.
How your benefits are calculated
To figure out your partial wage replacement, the insurance carrier checks your pre-injury wages. They compare them to what you earn now with your restrictions. For example, if you made $900 per week before your injury and now make $500, you qualify to receive two-thirds of the $400 difference. That means you’d get about $266.67 per week in TPD benefits.
When benefits might change or stop
Your benefits change or stop if your condition improves and you start earning more. If you reach maximum medical improvement and still can’t return to your old job, you switch to permanent partial disability benefits. A doctor and vocational rehab professional help decide what kind of work you can do moving forward.
Keep your benefits going smoothly
To keep your partial workers’ compensation benefits coming, stay in touch with your doctor, follow work restrictions, and provide wage info regularly. Skipping appointments or ignoring restrictions causes payment delays or even ends your benefits. Keep records of hours and pay to avoid confusion.