Denver Short Term Disability Lawyer

A moderate to severe injury on the job can wreak havoc on the lives of you or a loved one. Not only do you face the uncertainty of your healing process, but you can also face a challenging and confusing benefits process.

Not with Eley Law Firm by your side. We have 30 years of experience in assisting in all domains of workers’ compensation law. Request your free workers’ compensation disability benefit review today.

Defining Short-Term Disability

What individuals understand to be short-term disability has different definitions based on the context.

Short-term disability insurance provides benefits for injuries or illnesses that are unrelated to your job, unlike workers’ compensation. This is coverage you can buy through an employer’s insurance program but also independent of employment with private insurers.

On the other hand, short-term disability in the context of workers’ compensation means the short-term payments for lost wages made as an employee is recovering from a work-related injury or illness. Short-term disability for workers’ compensation can be divided into Temporary Total Disability (TTD) and Temporary Partial Disability (TPD).

In contrast to both forms of temporary disability, the Social Security Administration does not offer any short-form disability benefits.

Temporary Total Disability Vs. Temporary Partial Disability: What’s The Difference?

The core difference between TTD and TPD is the degree to which the employee can still work while receiving medical care. For TPD, the employee can still perform modified duties and receive compensation while getting care. In contrast, if an employee is determined to be TPD, the employee cannot work.

According to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, TPD is calculated “by subtracting the amount you were paid from the amount you would have been paid if you hadn’t been injured.” TTD, in comparison, pays two-thirds of your average weekly wage.

CDLE provides disability benefit calculators for workers’ compensation recipients on their website.

When Can I No Longer Receive Temporary Disability In Colorado?

Multiple conditions can trigger when an injured worker’s temporary disability ends.

1. The authorized treating physician has permitted you to resume your normal work duties and activities.
2. You can return to modified work after receiving a signed discharge from the authorized treating physician.
3. Your approved treating physician has determined that you have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI), which means that your injury or sickness has become stable, and no additional medical therapy will improve your condition.
4. This could make you eligible for permanent partial disability (PPD) or permanent total disability (PTD).
5. When you can return to work at your pre-injury income, your temporary disability benefits will end.
6. The insurer has requested that the benefits be altered, terminated, or suspended for reasons not included in the above list.

Additionally, if you are negligent in attendance to rescheduled medical visits, you may have your temporary disability suspended.

Trust The Leaders At Eley Law Firm For Your Short Term Disability Benefits

If you have suffered an injury or illness that has left you unable to work, it is important to consider working with a Denver disability lawyer like the team at Eley Law.

With our expertise in workers’ compensation law, we can help ensure that your claim is properly filed and negotiated with the benefits adjuster so that you get the benefits owed you. Get your case review today.