When an Employer's First Report of Injury is filed but accurate weekly wages cannot be determined, how should Temporary Disability be determined?

When an Employer's First Report of Injury is filed but accurate weekly wages cannot be determined, how should Temporary Disability be determined?

• A. Pay minimum TD
• B. Pay maximum TD
• C. Delay payment of TD and request a wage statement
• D. Average actual weekly earnings and pay TD accordingly

Answer: (D)

Temporary Disability is calculated as two-thirds of the employee’s average weekly wage, within the state's minimum and maximum TD limits. When the First Report of Injury is filed but exact weekly wages aren’t yet known, you base TD on the worker’s average actual weekly earnings and pay that amount accordingly. This provides timely benefits based on what the worker typically earns, and you can adjust later if wage information becomes available. Paying a fixed minimum or maximum wouldn’t reflect the individual's earnings, and delaying TD to obtain a wage statement would unnecessarily delay benefits.

Temporary Disability is calculated as two-thirds of the employee’s average weekly wage, within the state's minimum and maximum TD limits. When the First Report of Injury is filed but exact weekly wages aren’t yet known, you base TD on the worker’s average actual weekly earnings and pay that amount accordingly. This provides timely benefits based on what the worker typically earns, and you can adjust later if wage information becomes available. Paying a fixed minimum or maximum wouldn’t reflect the individual's earnings, and delaying TD to obtain a wage statement would unnecessarily delay benefits.