If a work injury keeps you from working while you recover, temporary disability (TD) benefits replace part of your lost wages. They're meant to keep you afloat during the healing period.
How much TD pays
Temporary disability generally pays about two-thirds (66⅔%) of your average weekly wage, subject to a state minimum and maximum that change every January. For 2025, the maximum is around $1,680 per week and the minimum around $252 per week. Your "average weekly wage" can include overtime and some other earnings, so it's worth calculating carefully.
Use our weekly benefit calculator to estimate your rate.
Two kinds of temporary disability
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD) — you can't work at all while recovering.
- Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) — you can do some modified or reduced work, and TD makes up part of the difference in your wages.
When payments start and stop
TD usually begins when a doctor says you can't work (typically after a short waiting period) and continues until one of these happens:
- Your doctor releases you to return to your normal job;
- Your condition becomes permanent and stationary (P&S) — meaning it has stabilized and isn't expected to improve much further; or
- You reach the time limit — for most injuries, TD is capped at 104 weeks within five years of the injury (a few serious conditions qualify for longer).
TD is tax-free
Temporary disability benefits are not taxed, which is one reason the two-thirds rate often comes close to your normal take-home pay. Payments are generally made every two weeks.
If your checks are late or wrong
Insurers are required to pay TD on time. Late payments can carry penalties. If your checks stop without explanation, are smaller than they should be, or never start, that's a common point where workers benefit from getting advice — see what to do about disputes.