Maryland Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Here we outline the differences between temporary and permanent benefits, as well as total and partial disability benefits under the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Act:

1.      Temporary Total Disability Benefits

If an employee’s injury results in the person being completely disabled for all work purposes, the employee may receive temporary total disability benefits.  If this period of disability or “healing” is fourteen days or less, the benefit payments are not allowed for the first three days (except for payments for hospital, nursing, or other medical services).  If the “healing” period is longer than fourteen days, then the compensation is allowed to be paid immediately.

 

2.      Temporary Partial Disability Benefits

These benefits are intended to replace, in part, some of the income being lost during the period of not working.  These benefits may be paid to an employee who is not totally disabled during the recovery period and is still able to perform some work duties at a lower wage.  The employer or its insurer pays the covered employee compensation equaling half of the difference between average weekly wage of employee before injury and the average wage after injury while temporarily disabled.  The average Maryland weekly wage is calculated every year by the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation.  Benefits to covered employees can never be less than $50 per week.

3.      Permanent Total Disability Benefits

In Maryland, the loss of any of the following is considered a permanent total disability: both arms, both eyes, both feet, both hands, both legs.  In addition, the loss of any two of the following constitute a permanent total disability: an arm, eye, foot, hand, or leg.

4.      Permanent Partial Disability Benefits

Injuries that result in a permanent impairment, but are not as severe as to leave a worker totally disabled, are covered by permanent partial disability benefits.  Benefit payments for permanent partial disability continue for a certain period of time that is determined by which part of the body is injured.  For example, the loss of a vital body part such as the thumb will result in longer payout periods than the loss of a pinky finger.  Once the period is over, no more payments are made.

If you or someone you love has sustained a work injury in Silver Spring, Maryland, or would like more information on workers compensation, please call us at (301) 854-9000 for a free consultation or visit us online at: http://www.portnerandshure.com/Workers-Compensation/Permanent-Total-Disability.shtml