Georgia Workers' Comp Benefits: Everything You're Entitled To

This is the most straightforward benefit. Your employer's workers' comp insurance must pay for all reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to your work injury. You pay zero out of pocket — no deductibles, no copays, no coinsurance.

Covered treatment includes doctor visits and specialist consultations, emergency room care, surgery and hospitalization, physical and occupational therapy, prescription medications, diagnostic tests like MRI and X-rays, prosthetic devices, wheelchairs, and other medical equipment, psychological treatment for conditions caused by the work injury, and mileage reimbursement for travel to medical appointments at $0.40 per mile.

There's a catch: your treatment must come from an authorized physician — a doctor on your employer's posted panel. If you go to an unauthorized doctor, the insurer may refuse to pay. See our guide on the panel of physicians for how to navigate this.

For non-catastrophic injuries, medical benefits are capped at 400 weeks from the date of injury. For catastrophic injuries, there is no cap — medical care can continue for life.

TTD is your wage replacement benefit when you cannot work at all. If your doctor says you're completely unable to work — or puts you on light-duty restrictions and no light-duty job is available — you qualify for TTD.

TTD pays two-thirds of your Average Weekly Wage (AWW). Your AWW is calculated by taking your total gross earnings from the 13 weeks before your injury and dividing by 13.

There is a 7-day waiting period before TTD kicks in. You won't be paid for the first 7 days you're out of work. However, if your disability lasts more than 21 consecutive days, you get paid retroactively for those first 7 days.

Your first TTD check should arrive within 21 days of your injury. If it doesn't, the insurer owes you a 20% penalty on all late payments. Our FAQ on late TTD payments explains your rights.

TTD benefits can continue for up to 400 weeks from the date of injury — that's roughly 7.7 years. If your injury is classified as catastrophic, there is no 400-week cap. You can receive TTD for life.

Example: Your AWW is $1,050. Two-thirds = $700 per week. Since $700 is below the $800 cap, you receive $700 per week in TTD benefits. If your AWW were $1,500, two-thirds would be $1,000 — but the cap limits you to $800.

TPD applies when you can go back to work, but you're earning less than before your injury. Maybe you're on light duty with fewer hours. Maybe you had to take a lower-paying role because of your restrictions.

TPD pays two-thirds of the difference between your pre-injury wages and your current wages.

Example: Before your injury, you earned $900 per week. Now you're on light duty earning $500 per week. The difference is $400. Two-thirds of $400 is $267 per week in TPD benefits.

TPD benefits are capped at $533 per week for injuries after July 1, 2023. They can continue for up to 350 weeks from the date of your accident.

It's common for injured workers to transition from TTD to TPD as they recover and gradually return to work. Keep careful records of your earnings during this period — any discrepancy in what the insurer calculates versus what you're actually earning should be flagged immediately.

PPD is compensation for lasting impairment — the permanent damage your injury caused, even after you've recovered as much as you're going to.

PPD benefits kick in after you reach Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI). This is the point where your doctor says your condition has stabilized and further significant improvement is not expected.

At MMI, your authorized treating physician assigns an impairment rating using the AMA Guides, 5th Edition. This rating is a percentage that reflects how much function you've permanently lost.

Your PPD payout is calculated using the body-part schedule under O.C.G.A. §34-9-263. Each body part has a maximum number of weeks assigned. Your impairment rating percentage is multiplied by those weeks, then multiplied by your weekly compensation rate. See our settlement chart for the complete body-part schedule and worked examples.

You cannot receive PPD benefits while you're still getting TTD or TPD. PPD begins only after temporary benefits end.

If you believe your impairment rating is too low, you have the right to challenge it. An independent medical examination or a second opinion can sometimes result in a higher rating. This is where having an experienced attorney makes a significant difference.

If your injury is classified as catastrophic, Georgia law entitles you to vocational rehabilitation services. These are designed to help you retrain for a new career or find employment that fits within your physical limitations.

Services can include job skills assessment, career counseling, retraining or education programs, job placement assistance, and resume and interview preparation.

You can access these services through the SBWC. If your employer or insurer isn't offering rehabilitation and you believe you qualify, an attorney can petition the Board on your behalf.

When a worker dies because of a work-related injury or illness, Georgia law provides benefits to surviving dependents.

Burial expenses are covered up to $7,500.

Income replacement is paid to eligible dependents. A surviving spouse with no children receives two-thirds of the deceased worker's AWW for up to 400 weeks. A surviving spouse with dependent children receives benefits until the youngest child turns 18 (or 22 if in college full-time), or 400 weeks — whichever is longer.

Eligible dependents include the surviving spouse, children under 18, children under 22 enrolled in school full-time, and children over 18 who are physically or mentally unable to support themselves.

If the surviving spouse remarries or cohabitates with a partner, death benefits end. Married children are not eligible.

Losing a loved one to a workplace accident is devastating. If you've lost a family member, an experienced attorney can help you navigate the claims process during an incredibly difficult time.

Here's a quick reference showing current maximum rates for all benefit types based on injury date.