Georgia Workers' Compensation Common Terms

Temporary Total Disability (TTD) Benefits - TTD benefits are weekly workers' compensation income benefits intended to compensate an injured worker for time missed from his or her job.  According to O.C.G.A. 34-9-261, TTD benefits should be equal to two thirds of the injured worker's average weekly wage and cannot exceed $500 per week.  

Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) Benefits - TPD benefits are weekly income workers' compensation income benefits which are also intended to compensate an injured worker for lost time.  However, TPD benefits are only relevant when an injured worker has returned to work and is making less than his pre-injury average weekly wage.  TPD benefits are governed by O.C.G.A. 34-9-262, and are equal to two thirds of the difference between the pre-injury and post-injury average weekly wage.

Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) Benefits - PPD benefits are intended to compensate an employee for permanent loss of use of a body part following a workplace injury.  PPD benefits are governed by O.C.G.A. 34-9-263.  Once you have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI), your doctor should assign you a PPD rating. If your doctor has noted you are at MMI and he has not assigned a PPD rating, you may want to ask your doctor if he believes you have a PPD rating.  Eventually, the Employer/Insurer will be required to compensate you for the permanent loss of use of that body part. 

Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation - This is the body governing workers' compensation claims in the State of Georgia.  The State Board of Workers' Compensation is responsible for adjudicating all Georgia workers' compensation claims.  If your case requires a hearing, your hearing will be held at an office of the State Board of Workers' Compensation.  An Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) from the State Board will eventually rule on factual and legal issues in your case.