ESPANOL
TTD means total temporary disability. This type of benefits is available to those who apply for workers’ compensation coverage. Some applicants will receive this type of coverage based on the specifics of their injuries.
Other individuals may receive a different type of coverage:
- Total permanent disability (TPD)
- Partial temporary disability (PTD)
- Partial permanent disability (PPD)
Your ability to work after you are injured and how long your disability will take to heal (or not) decides what kind of benefits you can receive.
For instance, you might be able to receive TTD if you break a large number of bones in your body and must remain in a full-body cast, unable to return to your job until you are healed enough to perform your daily duties.
What You Should Know About Workers’ Compensation
The compensation rate is determined by taking two-thirds of an injured worker’s average weekly wage from the last four quarters before their injury, according to the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission. There is a week-long delay before you start receiving benefits.
You can only receive these benefits for a certain number of weeks—which differs depending on what type of disability compensation you qualify for. When your doctor clears you to return to work, you will receive Form 15 in the mail informing you that your benefits have been terminated.
If you want to dispute this termination, the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission notes that you can fill out the form and send it to the Commission’s judicial department. You can still earn partial benefits if you can go back to your job under a “light work” status.
Requesting a Hearing
There are some circumstances where you can request a hearing with the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission. Such a hearing generally takes three to five weeks to take place.
You have the right to request a hearing:
- When you receive a denial. You can request a hearing if you are denied benefits because the Commission does not believe your accident caused your injuries, they do not believe your injuries impair you, or because you filed paperwork incorrectly.
- When you think you are entitled to more benefits. If you are not satisfied with the benefits you received (or you cannot afford to live while out of work despite receiving these benefits), you can file an appeal.
- If you have certain issues with your employer. If your employer does not report your accident (via a Form 50) or denies your injury was a result of your work-related accident, you could dispute their decision.
If you request a hearing, a lawyer can advocate for your rights and negotiate to resolve the dispute between you and your employer’s insurance company. Depending on the specifics of your situation, you also may be able to file a personal injury claim.
You Can Only See Certain Doctors
Your employer reserves the right to choose the doctor that will treat you unless your injuries required emergency intervention at the time. The necessary medical testimony you acquire to connect your injuries to the accident has to come from a doctor that has been approved by your employer and their insurance company. If this is not the case, your medical testimony may not be accepted.
If you saw your own doctor instead of the one your employer requested, you might be asked to undergo a second medical examination. There is always a chance that this second appointment could take place after you begin to heal. Thus, this second attending physician may not see all the symptoms you suffered. The insurance company may only want to pay you for what the approved doctor saw at your second visit.
To secure benefits for all of your symptoms, speak with your employer to get the contact information for an approved medical physician.
A Lawyer Can Help You in Multiple Ways
George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers can help you when you call us today. You can reach our team by phone or through our online form. We operate on a contingency-fee basis. This means that you do not owe us anything until we recover benefits or a settlement for you.
We are ready if you want to appeal the denial of your benefits. You can only do so after the hearing (at which the Commission upholds the denial). We can explain your rights under South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 42, talk about your options, and what TTD means in greater detail.
Alternatively, you may decide to file a lawsuit separate from your application for benefits. We can help you do this. For instance, if a third-party is partially responsible for your injury, we can help you hold them financially accountable for your losses.
We encourage you to reach out to our team today to schedule a free case review.