How Workers’ Compensation Temporary Disability Benefits Help Injured Workers In Fort Lauderdale

Being involved in a work-related accident in Fort Lauderdale is difficult enough. The injuries you suffered may require long months of medical care and recovery, leaving you stuck at home, watching your savings dwindle as debts pile up.

Making a physical recovery is hard enough, and the financial pressure on top of it can feel overwhelming. Florida workers’ compensation temporary disability benefits are designed specifically for this situation. Our experienced Fort Lauderdale workers’ compensation lawyer explains how these benefits work and what to do if yours are delayed or denied.

Florida Workers’ Compensation Temporary Disability Benefits Help Make Up For Your Losses

Benefits available through the Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation can provide a safety net when on-the-job accidents in Fort Lauderdale happen. Temporary disability benefits help replace portions of lost income while you recover.

Under Section 440.15 of the Florida Statutes, temporary disability benefits available in a Fort Lauderdale workers’ compensation claim are:

• Temporary Total Disability (TTD), available if your authorized treating physician determines you cannot work at all during your recovery.
• Temporary Partial Disability (TPD), if you can return to work, but in a limited capacity, and are earning less than 80 percent of your pre-injury wages.

Temporary disability benefits in Florida pay up to two-thirds of your former wages and can continue for up to 104 weeks from the date of your injury, or until you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI), whichever comes first.

How Injured Workers Can Protect Their Rights To Temporary Disability Benefits in Fort Lauderdale

Temporary disability benefits can be delayed, reduced, or cut off entirely if certain conditions are not met. Insurers look for any reason to reduce what they pay, and small missteps can give them the opening they need. To protect your rights to temporary benefits in a Fort Lauderdale workers’ compensation claim, take these steps:

• Follow all treatment recommendations and attend every scheduled appointment, as missed visits can be used to justify reducing or stopping your benefits.
• Keep your employer informed of your work restrictions and notify them promptly of any changes to your condition.
• If your employer offers light-duty work, review it carefully before accepting. A position that exceeds your physical restrictions can affect your claim.
• Track your earnings and compare them against your pre-injury wages to make sure your benefit amount is being calculated correctly.

If your temporary disability benefits are delayed, miscalculated, or suddenly stopped, get professional legal help right away.

Questions About Temporary Disability Benefits? Consult an Experienced Fort Lauderdale Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

Temporary disability benefits can provide a safety net for you and your family when work-related injuries in Fort Lauderdale happen. At the Law Offices of David M. Benenfeld, P.A., our experienced Fort Lauderdale workers’ compensation lawyer gathers evidence, deals with insurers, and helps you get the maximum amount you need to recover in a claim.

For trusted legal help, call or contact us online. Request a consultation at our Sunrise, Fort Lauderdale, or West Palm Beach office today.

Source:

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0440/Sections/0440.15.html