Workers' Comp Benefits in Georgia: TTD, PPD, Medical & More

Georgia workers' comp pays wage-replacement benefits (TTD, TPD, PPD), all reasonable medical expenses, and death benefits. TTD pays 2/3 of your average weekly wage up to $800/week (confirmed July 2023) for up to 400 weeks — or unlimited for catastrophic injuries. PPD is based on your AMA Guides 5th impairment rating.

This is general information, not legal advice. A Georgia workers’ compensation attorney can help.

Georgia workers’ comp provides several categories of benefits depending on how severely and how permanently your injury affects your ability to work.

Temporary Total Disability (TTD)

If you are completely unable to work while recovering, you receive Temporary Total Disability benefits under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-261:

Rate: 2/3 (66.67%) of your average weekly wage (AWW)
Minimum: $50/week
Maximum: $800/week (as of July 1, 2023; adjusts annually — confirm current rate at sbwc.georgia.gov)
Duration: Up to 400 weeks from the date of injury for non-catastrophic injuries; unlimited for catastrophic injuries

Temporary Partial Disability (TPD)

If you can return to light-duty work but at a lower wage, you receive Temporary Partial Disability under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-262:

Rate: 2/3 of the wage loss (difference between pre- and post-injury AWW)
Maximum: $533/week (as of July 1, 2023)
Duration: Up to 350 weeks from the date of injury

Permanent Partial Disability (PPD)

Once you reach maximum medical improvement and have a permanent impairment, your authorized treating physician assigns an impairment rating under the AMA Guides, 5th Edition. Under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-263, PPD benefits are calculated as:

Impairment % × Maximum weeks for that body part × weekly PPD rate

Key scheduled body parts:

Body Part	Maximum Weeks
Arm	225 weeks
Leg	225 weeks
Hand	160 weeks
Foot	135 weeks
Body as a whole	300 weeks

Catastrophic Injury: Unlimited Benefits

If your injury is classified as catastrophic under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-200.1(g), the 400-week TTD cap is removed and benefits continue indefinitely. Catastrophic injuries include:

Spinal cord injury with severe paralysis
Amputation of arm, hand, foot, or leg
Severe brain or closed-head injury
Burns over 25% or more of the body
Total or industrial blindness
Any injury preventing your prior work AND any work available in substantial numbers in the national economy

Seeking a catastrophic designation from the SBWC can be one of the most important steps in a serious case.

Medical Benefits

Your employer must pay all reasonable and necessary medical expenses — there is no dollar cap and no time limit. Covered expenses include doctor visits, surgery, physical therapy, prescriptions, medical equipment, and specialist care, provided they are authorized by your panel physician.

Death Benefits

If a work injury causes death (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-265):

Wholly dependent survivors receive 2/3 of AWW, subject to the same maximum as TTD
Burial expenses up to $7,500
If there are no dependents, only burial expenses are payable

To get matched with a local Georgia workers’ compensation attorney, connect with a lawyer.

Frequently asked questions

How is my average weekly wage (AWW) calculated?

Your AWW is generally the average of your gross weekly earnings over the 13 weeks before the injury. Overtime, tips, and regular bonuses are typically included. Your employer or the SBWC will calculate this figure, but you have the right to verify it.

What counts as a 'catastrophic' injury that removes the 400-week TTD cap?

Under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-200.1(g), catastrophic injuries include spinal cord injury with severe paralysis, amputation of an arm, hand, foot, or leg, severe brain or closed-head injury, burns over 25% or more of the body, total or industrial blindness, and any injury that prevents you from performing your prior work AND any work available in substantial numbers in the national economy.

Does workers' comp cover my prescription medications and physical therapy?

Yes. Georgia law requires your employer to pay all reasonable and necessary medical expenses with no dollar cap or time limit, including prescriptions, physical therapy, specialist visits, surgery, and medical equipment — as long as they are authorized by your treating physician.

Related guides

Filing a Workers' Comp Claim in Georgia To protect a Georgia workers' comp claim, notify your employer within 30 days of the injury (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-80) and file Form WC-14 with the State Board of Workers' Compensation within 1 year (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-82). Missing either deadline can bar your benefits.

Independent Contractors and Workers' Comp in Georgia Georgia uses the right-to-control test to determine whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor for workers' comp purposes (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-1). A written IC contract does not automatically establish contractor status. In construction, a general contractor can be the statutory employer of a subcontractor's uninsured workers (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-8).

The Panel of Physicians in Georgia Workers' Comp Georgia employers must post a panel of at least 6 physicians (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-201), including at least one orthopedic surgeon. You choose your authorized treating physician (ATP) from the panel and are entitled to one free change. If the employer has no valid panel, you can see any doctor.

Third-Party Claims in Georgia Workers' Comp Workers' comp is the exclusive remedy against your employer and co-workers in Georgia (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-11), but you can still sue a negligent third party who caused or contributed to your injury (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-11.1). Your employer holds a subrogation lien on any third-party recovery but can only collect after you are fully compensated.

Workers' Comp Settlements in Georgia Georgia workers' comp cases can be resolved through a Stipulated Settlement (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-15), which must be approved by the SBWC Board when there is a bona fide dispute of fact. Once approved, the settlement is final and typically closes both income and medical benefits.

Workers' Comp Benefits in Georgia