A workplace injury in Maryland can have serious consequences, potentially limiting your ability to perform your job and earn a living. The state’s workers’ compensation system provides disability benefits to eligible employees, regardless of whether their injuries are temporary or how severely they limit their ability to work. Understanding the difference between temporary vs. permanent disability in workers’ compensation is essential because it affects the type and duration of benefits you may receive based on the severity of your injury and your expected recovery time.
What Is the Difference Between Temporary and Permanent Disability Workers’ Comp Benefits?
The difference between temporary disability vs. permanent disability benefits is in the name. Temporary disability benefits last for a limited time, typically until you heal from your injury or reach maximum medical improvement (MMI), the point where further treatments won’t meaningfully improve your condition.
By contrast, permanent disability benefits provide long-term financial support if your injury is so severe that you’re left with permanent impairments. Despite the term “permanent,” these benefits usually do not last a lifetime. Instead, they provide support for a fixed number of weeks, and their duration depends on the type of injury and how much it affects your working ability. You could receive lifetime benefits if an injury leaves you completely unable to earn a living.
How Permanent vs. Temporary Disability Affects Your Benefits
Maryland workers’ compensation law allows for four types of disability benefits:
- Temporary total disability (TTD) – These benefits cover workers who are unable to work while they heal. TTD pays two-thirds of the worker’s average weekly wage, up to a state-set maximum. If the disability lasts more than 14 days, benefits apply from the first day of disability. If it’s less than two weeks, benefits do not cover the first three days unless the employee needs medical care.
- Temporary partial disability (TPD) – Employees who can return to limited or part-time duties after an injury but earn less than before may qualify for TPD benefits. Injured workers receive 50 percent of the difference between their pre-injury wages and current earning capacity, up to 50 percent of the state average weekly wage.
- Permanent total disability (PTD) – If a worker suffers a catastrophic injury that entirely prevents them from working — like losing both hands, feet, or a combination of major body parts — they may qualify for PTD benefits. These benefits pay two-thirds of the worker’s average weekly wage, subject to the maximum allowed by Maryland law.
- Permanent partial disability (PPD) – PPD benefits provide weekly payments to workers with lasting impairments that don’t entirely prevent them from working. The benefit amount and duration depend on the injured body part and the severity of the injury.
Examples of Temporary Disabilities and Permanent Disabilities
Some examples of temporary and permanent disabilities include:
Temporary Disabilities
- A broken arm or leg that will heal with treatment
- A concussion with expected full recovery
- Muscle strains or sprains
- Minor back injuries requiring rest and therapy
- Injuries requiring surgery, such as a rotator cuff tear
Permanent Disabilities
- Amputation of a hand, foot, or limb
- Permanent loss of vision in one or both eyes
- Chronic pain or mobility loss from a spinal cord injury
- Hearing loss that won’t improve
Contact Our Experienced Workers’ Compensation Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Whether your work-related injury results in a temporary or permanent disability, Trollinger Law LLC can help you with your claim and fight for your rightful benefits. Call now or complete our contact form for a free consultation with a Maryland workers’ compensation lawyer.
