Temporary Total Disability Ohio Workers’ Comp

What is TTD?

Temporary total disability, or TTD, is the benefit paid to an injured worker to replace lost income due to a job-related injury or occupational disease. You are entitled to receive temporary total disability benefits if you are unable to return to your former position of employment due to the injury. You may also be entitled to TTD if you are released to return to work with restrictions and your employer cannot accommodate the restrictions.

Temporary Total Disability vs Permanent Total Disability

Temporary total disability (TTD) and permanent total disability (PTD) both compensate injured workers who are unable to work because of a job-related injury or occupational disease. The main difference is whether the worker is expected to recover and return to employment.

Temporary total disability benefits are available when an injured worker cannot perform their job duties but is still receiving treatment and is expected to improve. These benefits generally continue until the worker returns to work or is released to perform suitable employment.

Permanent total disability benefits in Ohio may be available after a worker has reached maximum medical improvement but is no longer expected to recover enough to return to any sustained employment. PTD compensation is intended for workers whose injuries are so severe that they permanently prevent them from working and are generally payable for the remainder of the injured workers’ lives.

Who Qualifies for Temporary Total Disability Benefits in Ohio?

To be eligible for temporary total disability compensation in Ohio, an injured worker must be unable to return to their former position of employment because of the allowed conditions in their workers’ compensation claim. The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation relies on medical evidence from the treating physician and other medical providers to determine whether the worker qualifies for benefits. 

How is Temporary Total Compensation Paid in Ohio?

Medical treatment for a work injury may be covered through a workers’ compensation claim regardless of the number of days missed from work. However, TTD payments depend on the number of calendar days an injured worker misses due to the injury:

• If an injured worker misses 7 days or fewer, no TTD payments are available.
• If the worker misses between 8 and 14 days, TTD payments begin on the 8th day of missed work.
• If the worker misses more than 14 calendar days, TTD payments are available for the entire disability period, including the first 7 days missed.

MEDCO-14 and C-84

To request payment of TTD benefits, the injured worker’s treating physician must complete a Physician’s Report of Work Ability (MEDCO-14) form documenting the worker’s medical restrictions and inability to return to work. The injured worker must also complete a C-84 application requesting temporary total disability compensation.

Both forms must be submitted to the Ohio BWC for review. Providing complete and accurate information can help prevent delays in the processing of TTD benefits.

Receiving Ohio Temporary Disability Benefits

For the first 12 weeks after a workplace injury, TTD benefits are generally paid at 72% of the injured worker’s full weekly wage. When comparing the full weekly wage vs average weekly wage, the full weekly wage is typically calculated based on earnings from the six weeks and/or seven days prior to the injury, often by using payroll records and pay stubs.

If the worker remains unable to return to work after the first 12 weeks, TTD benefits are generally reduced to 66⅔% of the worker’s average weekly wage. The average weekly wage is calculated using the worker’s earnings during the past year leading up to the injury date.

Regardless of the calculation method, TTD payments cannot exceed the statewide average weekly wage maximum established under Ohio workers’ compensation law. Because wage calculations can significantly affect the amount of compensation received, it is important to verify that earnings information has been calculated correctly.

How Long Does Temporary Total Disability Last?

An injured worker may continue receiving temporary total disability benefits until one of several events occurs. TTD benefits generally end when:

• The injured worker returns to work.
• The treating physician releases the worker to return to the same position held before the injury.
• Ohio employers offer suitable light-duty work that falls within the injured workers’ medical restrictions.
• The worker has reached maximum medical improvement, meaning additional treatment is not expected to significantly improve the condition.
• The worker begins working for another employer, whether on a full-time or part-time basis.

Can TTD Benefits Be Taken Away?

Yes. In certain situations, TTD benefits may be suspended or terminated. Benefits often end when the injured worker returns to work, has reached MMI, or is medically cleared to perform suitable employment.

TTD benefits may also be affected if the worker voluntarily abandons employment. For example, if an employee leaves their job for reasons unrelated to the work injury, eligibility for ongoing wage-loss benefits may be impacted. 

Because disputes involving voluntary abandonment and termination of TTD can be complicated, injured workers should consult an experienced Ohio workers’ compensation attorney before making decisions that could affect their benefits.

What Happens if Temporary Disability is Denied?

A denial of temporary total disability compensation does not necessarily mean your case is over. Injured workers have the right to challenge a denial through the Ohio workers’ compensation appeals process.

In many cases, a denial occurs because of missing documentation, disputes regarding medical evidence, or disagreements about whether the worker is unable to perform their job duties. Additional records, physician reports, and other supporting evidence may help strengthen the claim. If the dispute cannot be resolved, the matter may be scheduled for a hearing before a Staff Hearing Officer with the Ohio Industrial Commission. At the hearing, both sides can present evidence and arguments regarding the claim.

Appeals involve strict deadlines and complex legal issues, which is why working with a Cincinnati workers’ comp appeals lawyer is so beneficial. Attorney Mark L. Newman helps injured workers prepare for hearings, gather supporting documentation, and pursue appeals when benefits have been denied.

Salary Continuation in Lieu of Temporary Disability in Ohio

Salary continuation is a voluntary program that allows an injured worker to continue receiving their full salary and benefits from their employer in lieu of temporary total compensation. The worker has the option to accept or reject their employer’s offer to receive salary continuation unless a collective bargaining contract indicates otherwise.

To initiate salary continuation, you and your employer must sign a Salary Continuation Agreement (C-55) and submit it to the Ohio BWC. Either you or your employer can terminate salary continuation at any time. If salary continuation is terminated, the BWC will pay TTD if you are still unable to work due to the injury.

Salary continuation benefits you (the injured worker) because it is generally paid in a more timely manner than temporary total compensation and avoids disruption in pay following an injury. This allows you to focus entirely on your recovery without having to worry about a loss of wages. It can also benefit your employer by potentially reducing claim costs and future premium increases.

Before agreeing to salary continuation, it is important to understand how it may affect your workers’ compensation claim and benefits. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney can review your situation and help you determine whether salary continuation or TTD benefits are the better option.

Why Do I Need an Attorney for Temporary Total Compensation?

Many potential issues can arise when an injured worker seeks temporary total disability. For example, an employer may contest the claim or send the injured worker to a doctor for an exam. That is why it is advisable for those seeking temporary total disability or any other types of workers’ comp benefits in Ohio to have a qualified attorney on their side. Having a skilled workers’ comp attorney like Mark Newman on your side can ensure your rights are protected so you can obtain the full benefits you are entitled to. 

Contact Ohio Attorney Mark L. Newman Today

If your doctor determines that you are unable to return to your regular job because of a work-related injury or occupational illness, you’re entitled to temporary total disability compensation to help replace your lost wages. The sooner you get Cincinnati workers’ comp attorney Mark L. Newman on your side, the sooner you can focus on your recovery, knowing he will fight to get you the benefits you deserve.

To find out if you qualify for TTD, contact Mark L. Newman for a private consultation. Call (513) 533-2009 or fill out the online intake form to get started today.