When you’re unable to work because of a Vermont work injury, one benefit you’re entitled to receive is weekly temporary total disability (TTD) benefits. TTD benefits are considered “wage replacement” benefits, in that you’re paid 2/3 of the gross (pre-tax) average weekly wages you were earning before your injury. Unfortunately, unless you’re permanently and totally disabled, Vermont workers’ compensation laws don’t generally allow you to receive TTD benefits for the rest of your life, even if your injury doesn’t fully heal. The good news, however, is that Vermont provides more favorable TTD benefits than some other states. In California and Texas, for example, most injuries are capped at only 104 weeks (2 years) of TTD benefits, regardless of whether you’ve completed treatment or healed from your injury.

In Vermont, you’re entitled to receive TTD benefits until you either (1) return to work, either in your old job or a new job; or (2) are placed at “medical end result” for your work injury — whichever occurs first. There is no specific cap on the number of weeks, months, or years that you can receive TTD benefits in Vermont. Instead, you can receive TTD benefits until you no longer need them (return to work), or until your healing process has plateaued (medical end result). This is good news, because sometimes it can take several years before you’ve exhausted your treatment options.

If you think your workers’ compensation insurance company is prematurely discontinuing your weekly TTD benefits, contact Dickson Law Office for a free consultation.