In Colorado, worker’s compensation has different benefits for certain kinds of injuries, and their duration can range from a few weeks for minor ailments to a lifetime for catastrophic injuries. But in most cases, temporary benefits reach their end with a legal and medical milestone known as Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI).
How temporary benefits work
When an employee is recovering, they can receive benefits that are designed to support them until they are back on their feet again.
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD): These are wage replacement payments issued while an employee is fully unable to work, based on a doctor’s orders or medical limits that an employer cannot accommodate
- Temporary Partial Disability (TPD): These benefits apply when an employee can work but only in a reduced role that pays less than their pre-injury wage; TPD covers part of that wage gap
Both payments end once an employee goes back to work as usual or reaches MMI.
What happens once an employee reaches MMI?
MMI means that, on a specific date, an employee’s authorized treating physician determines that the condition has stabilized and no further treatment is needed to achieve meaningful improvement. Reaching MMI is the most important event in a Colorado claim. When this occurs:
- Medical treatment stops and the employee can receive maintenance care, in order to prevent their condition from worsening
- Permanent benefits are assessed, which means that if an employee shows signs of lasting physical damage, they can qualify for an impairment rating by their doctor, which can turn into Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) payments
Certain injuries can seriously harm an employee’s health and quality of life, and they may qualify for lifelong Permanent Total Disability (PTD) benefits if they can show they are unable to earn wages in any standard job.
Protecting an employee’s benefits
Colorado has strict timelines for worker’s compensation. If something happens at the workplace, an employee should notify their employer immediately in writing. After that, they have up to two years from the date of the injury to file a claim with the Division of Workers’ Compensation, though this can be extended to three years in specific circumstances where reasonable excuse is shown.
A workplace injury can be daunting, but employees have the right for compensation. A skilled attorney can offer different strategies depending on the circumstances.