Summary:

In the Minnesota workers’ compensation system, wage loss benefits replace part of a worker’s income when an injury prevents full employment. Benefits fall into three main categories: Temporary Total Disability (TTD), Temporary Partial Disability (TPD), and Permanent Total Disability (PTD). Each is calculated from the worker’s average weekly wage and capped by law. Benefits depend on medical evidence and are often disputed by insurers, especially over wage calculations or independent medical exams.

An injury that takes you out of the workforce can feel like a double hit. You’re recovering physically while also watching paychecks disappear. Wage loss benefits exist to ease that financial pressure, but the rules on when and how they apply aren’t always straightforward. 

Minnesota law outlines several categories of wage loss benefits through workers’ compensation. The benefit amounts depend on your pre-injury average weekly wage and are subject to statutory caps. The main categories include:

• Temporary Total Disability (TTD): Applies when you cannot work at all because of your injury. Typically pays two-thirds of your gross weekly wage, subject to a cap set by state law.

• Temporary Partial Disability (TPD): Applies if you return to work but at reduced hours or pay. Provides a portion of the difference between pre-injury wages and current wages.

• Permanent Total Disability (PTD): Applies if your injury prevents you from working in any capacity. Benefits continue at the statutory rate for an extended period, but are still subject to rules and limitations.

These benefits are not meant to provide your full paycheck but to cushion your financial loss during recovery or permanent impairment.

Duration also matters. Benefits are tied to medical evidence and can be cut off if an insurer argues the injury has healed or if an independent medical examination (IME) suggests the worker can return to work. This is often where disputes arise.

Why an Attorney Matters

Insurance companies often calculate average weekly wage on the low end, directly reducing the benefits you receive. They may also pressure injured workers to return to work earlier than is safe. IMEs add another challenge, as the doctors conducting them are chosen and paid by the insurer.

Best practices for injured workers include keeping records of pre-injury income, maintaining all medical documentation, and ensuring that your medical providers document any work restrictions. Still, the legal framework and the tactics insurers use make it difficult to secure the full amount owed without help.

An experienced attorney can review wage calculations, challenge insurer-driven IMEs, and ensure your rights under Minnesota law are enforced. The stakes are high because even small discrepancies in wage calculations can make a big difference over time.

If you’ve been injured and your ability to work is impacted, it may be time to talk through your situation with a lawyer. Melchert Hubert Sjodin, PLLP helps injured workers and accident victims protect their income and access the wage loss benefits they’re entitled to. Call (952) 442-7700 to schedule a consultation.