Skip to Main Content
banner

Rate of Time Loss Compensation

You are injured at work. You file a workers’ compensation claim and the Department allows your claim. As a result of your injury, you are unable to work and your attending physician certifies that you cannot work because of your injuries. You should be entitled to receive wage replacement benefits called time loss compensation or temporary total disability benefits.

Time loss compensation must be paid by the Department or self-insured employer within 14 days of the claim being filed, so long as inability to work is certified by a doctor or other approved provider. Ongoing time loss must be paid every 14 days, again based on certification of your attending physician. Your time loss benefits will stop when your doctor releases you to work.

Several things determine your compensation rate:

  • Wages from all employment at the time of the injury. If you were working two jobs at the time of the injury, make sure that your claims manager knows about all wages.
  • Overtime if worked regularly. You will be paid for the average overtime hours at your regular hourly rate. For example, you work an average of 10 hours per month of overtime. Your regular hourly rate is $15 per hour. For purposes of calculating your time loss compensation, your wages will include $150 per month in overtime — 10 hours X $15 per hour. You are not credited for $22.50 per hour, which would be the normal overtime rate.
  • Bonuses. If you received regular bonuses, the average of the bonuses during a 12-month period is added to your wages.
  • Medical, dental and vision insurance premiums that your employer paid for you and your family. Your time loss compensation will be adjusted for this amount when your employer no longer pays those benefits for you.
  • Marital status and number of dependents. Single workers are paid 60 percent of their total date of injury wages. Married workers will be paid 65 percent for the life of the claim, even if your marriage later ends. An additional 2 percent will be paid for each child conceived or born prior to the date of injury, up to a maximum of 80 percent. As your children turn 18 (23 if they remain in school on a full-time basis), your time loss compensation will be reduced by their 2 percent rate.

There are other variables in calculating time loss compensation — seasonal work, tips, room and board, piecework and commissions are just a few.

Getting paid the correct rate of compensation is extremely important. Whatever wages are determined by the Department at the beginning of your claim will set your time loss compensation or pension benefits for the rest of your claim. Watch for an official wage order issued by the Department. You will only have 60 days from that order to make a written protest to prove higher wages.

Contact us so that we can review your date of injury earnings to make sure that your time loss compensation is correct.

Our clients are saying:

“I just wanted to reiterate how excited we are for how everything worked out in this fight for a lifetime pension. We are very grateful for all the hard work you and Patrick have put in working on this case for such a long time and being able to prevail! That you very much again!”

Viktor

“Words cannot express how grateful we are for your help in our L&I case. I am confident we could not have secured better representation.”

Michelle

“I want to let you know that I truly appreciate all the efforts you put into ensuring that I received what is due to me. I really thank you for your thoughtfulness, care and kind words.”

Olu

“There are no words to express my gratitude for all the help you have given me during this part of my journey over the many years. The Walthew Law Firm lawyers and office people are the very best.”

Chris

Call us today.
Offices in Seattle and Everett.

Talk to an attorney to get free advice about your claim.

206-623-5311

Mailing Address
PO Box 34645
Seattle, WA 98124-1645
*Packages and overnight deliveries should be shipped to the Seattle physical address.

Seattle Office
3000 1st Avenue
Seattle, WA 98121

Everett Office
2906 Colby Ave | Suite 101
Everett, WA 98201

Request an appointment

Schedule a free consultation >