What are ‘Wage Replacement Benefits’ in Florida?

Glossary Check

If you needed a definition for wage replacement benefits in Florida, along with related terminology, you could have that information with a couple of clicks on Simply Research. We highlight some of it here.

Workers’ compensation benefits for lost wages will start on the eighth day that the injured employee is unable to work. The injured employee will not receive wage replacement benefits for the first seven days of work missed, unless he or she is out of work for more than 21 days due to the work-related injury.

In most cases, the wage-replacement benefits will equal two-thirds of the employee’s pre-injury regular
weekly wage, but the benefit will not be higher than Florida’s average weekly wage. If the employee qualifies for wage replacement benefits, he or she can expect to receive the first benefit check within 21 days after the carrier becomes aware of the injury or illness, and bi-weekly thereafter. The injured employee will be eligible for different types of wage replacement benefits, depending on the progress of the claim and the severity of the injury.

Temporary Total Benefits: These benefits are provided as a result of an injury that temporarily prevents the employee returning to work and the employee has not reached MMI.

Temporary Partial Benefits: These benefits are provided when the doctor releases the employee to
return to work, and the employee has not reached MMI and earns less than 80 percent of the preinjury wage. The benefit is equal to 80 percent of the difference between 80 percent of the pre-injury
wage and the post-injury wage. The maximum length of time the injured employee can receive temporary
benefits is 104 weeks or until the date of MMI is determined, whichever is earlier.

Permanent Impairment Benefits: These benefits are provided when the injury causes any physical, psychological or functional loss and the impairment exists after the date of MMI. A doctor will assign
a permanent impairment rating, expressed as a percentage of disability to the body as a whole. If a worker returns to work at or above her pre-injury wage, the permanent impairment benefit is reduced by 50%.

Permanent Total Benefits: These benefits are provided when the injury causes the employee to be
permanently and totally disabled according to the conditions stated in law.

Death Benefits: Compensation for deaths resulting from work-related injuries or illnesses include
payment of funeral expenses and dependency benefits (each are subject to limits defined by law).
A dependent spouse may also be eligible for job training benefits

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