Alabama law requires that employers of labor in the state make their work premises safe for their employees. However, there's still a chance of suffering an injury or occupational disease at work. If you sustain an injury or an infection from work in Alabama, you may be eligible for workers' compensation benefits. Your eligibility often depends on the nature and extent of your injuries.

TTD is one of such available workers comp benefits. Therefore, it would be best to understand what it means. Furthermore, if you're filing for workers comp in Alabama, it would help to hire an experienced workers' compensation attorney. A lawyer significantly increases your chances of getting the compensation you deserve.

What Is TTD?

TTD stands for Temporary Total Disability under the Alabama Workers' Compensation Act. It is one category of temporary disability benefits, and the other one is Temporary Partial Disability (TPD). TTD is a form of workers compensation payment that replaces the wages you lose while recovering from personal injuries or an occupational disease that arises out of and occurs in the employment course.

So, if you're injured or sick and your doctor says that you can't return to work while in recovery, you will be eligible for TTD benefits. TTD is different from TPD. You can earn TPD when you can still work, although you have an injury, and the damage reduced your earning capacity. This will be when your doctor recommends that you only do light tasks or work only part-time.

Generally, to be eligible for workers' comp in Alabama, you must report your wound to your employer within five days of the injury or occupational disease. If you don't notify your employer within 90 days of your injury, you may lose your right to any workers' compensation.

How To Calculate TTD Benefits

Two factors determine how much TTD you will ultimately receive. They are:

• The amount you were earning before the injury, and
• How long you stay away from work

Generally, TTD benefits amount to about two-thirds of your average weekly wages (AWW). For instance, if you were earning $900 before your disability, you will receive $600, two-thirds of your wages.

Alabama has set minimum and maximum payable amounts based on the state's average earnings. Therefore, if your injuries occurred between July 2020 and June 2021, the maximum payable TTD is $920/week. For the same timeframe, the minimum payable amount is $253/week, except your job paid lower than that before your injury. It's noteworthy that you don't pay income tax on temporary disability benefits.

When Can I Start Receiving TTD?

Alabama has a three-day waiting period before you start receiving TTD benefits. Therefore, you should begin receiving TTD benefits from the fourth day of your disability. If your disability exists for up to 21 days, you shall add compensation for the first three days. It is payable with the first installment due to the employer after 21 days.

Furthermore, suppose you don't receive an installment within thirty days from when it becomes due. In that case, the law adds 15% of that installment to the original sum. You will receive it in addition to and at the same time as the delayed payment.

How Long Can You Stay on TTD?

TTD payments should keep coming in throughout your incapacitation from work. However, according to Alabama law, you can stop receiving TTD benefits once your doctor clears you to resume work. Payments may stop whether or not you return to work. Conversely, you can continue receiving payments until your doctor says that you have reached “Maximum medical improvement” (MMI).

MMI means that you're at a point where physicians can do nothing else to improve your condition further. At this stage, the doctor has reached the zenith of your treatment process, and you may never fully recover. It could also be that you have recovered, are stable, and won't experience any significant health changes.

You Can Trust Mike Bell Lawyers To Get Your TTD Benefits

If you have suffered on-the-job injuries or an occupational disease that you think makes you eligible for TTD, you should make your claim now. However, getting TTD benefits can be more challenging than getting other forms of workers comp benefits. Therefore, it's best to hire an Alabama workers' compensation attorney.

At Mike Bell Injury Law, our lawyers have multiple years of experience getting workers compensation benefits for Alabama residents. We can put this wealth of knowledge to use for your case. So, why not call us today for a FREE case evaluation?