Estimate & general information only — not legal advice. Results are educational estimates based on the figures you enter and 2026 California rates. They do not account for every fact (medical reports, apportionment, disputes) and do not create an attorney-client relationship. For an accurate answer, speak with a licensed California workers' compensation attorney — we can connect you for free.
Back at work for less pay? Your California wage-loss benefits
Returning to work on light or modified duty — but earning less than before — is one of the most common and confusing situations in workers' comp. The good news: California has benefits designed exactly for this, and many workers never claim them.
Temporary partial disability (TPD) fills part of the gap. It pays roughly two-thirds of the difference between your pre-injury average weekly wage and your current reduced earnings, up to the temporary-disability maximum ($1,764.11/week in 2026). For example, if you earned $1,200 and now earn $600, your $600 weekly wage loss yields about $400/week in TPD (LC 4654/4657).
Two more benefits often apply once your case is permanent and stationary:
- $6,000 Supplemental Job Displacement Benefit (SJDB) voucher — if your employer doesn't offer suitable regular, modified, or alternative work within 60 days of P&S, you're generally entitled to a retraining voucher (LC 4658.7, injuries 2013+).
- $5,000 Return-to-Work Supplement — a one-time payment for workers who got an SJDB voucher and whose PD award is low relative to their wage loss (RTWSP).
There's also a possible ±15% adjustment to your permanent disability depending on whether suitable work was offered, for employers with 50+ employees (LC 4658(d)). If you're earning less because of a work injury, it's worth confirming you're getting all of it.