A Guide to Temporary Disability Benefits After a Colorado Work Injury
Serving injured workers in Colorado
Temporary Disability Benefits for Wage Loss in Colorado After a Work Injury
Key points about temporary disability benefits after a work injury in Colorado:
- Colorado employees who miss more than 3 shifts due to a work-related injury or illness may qualify for temporary disability benefits.
- These benefits typically provide two-thirds of your average weekly wage (AWW) before the injury.
- Workers’ comp temporary disability benefits are tax-free, so your take-home pay may be close to what you earned before your injury.
- There’s no set time limit for how long you can receive TTD benefits in Colorado—they can continue as long as your doctor keeps you off work and you haven’t reached maximum medical improvement (MMI).
- If you have a lasting impairment after reaching MMI, you may qualify for permanent disability benefits.
Employees who miss more than 3 days (or shifts) of work due to a work injury or occupational illness may qualify for a type of wage loss benefits called temporary disability benefits. Typically, temporary disability benefits pay two-thirds (66.67%) of your average weekly wage (AWW) before the injury, up to a maximum amount that changes annually.
Unfortunately, many workers’ compensation insurers in Colorado try to find ways not to pay. They may try to argue that you can actually work, or they may say your injury happened outside of work or was caused by a pre-existing condition, so it’s not covered—but that’s not necessarily true.
At Babcock Tucker, our experienced Denver workers’ compensation lawyers are all too familiar with these strategies, and we know how to challenge them head-on so you can get the workers’ comp benefits you need while you recover.
Let’s be absolutely clear:
Colorado workers’ compensation laws require most employers to provide wage loss benefits if an injury or illness at work prevents a worker from doing their job. This safeguard was put in place to protect injured workers from bankruptcy and financial ruin.
If you’re having problems obtaining temporary disability benefits or any other types of workers’ comp benefits after an injury on the job in Denver, contact Babcock Tucker today to schedule a free consultation.
We’ll always be there for you through the whole process. Every step of the way.
What is temporary disability?
There are 2 different types of temporary disability:
You can receive TTD when you are completely disabled and not able to perform any tasks at work. Having to miss work for several months can be a crippling blow to you and your family. Temporary total disability benefits help make sure you can still meet your financial obligations while you’re being treated for an on-the-job injury. Even if it takes 10 years to treat your injury, you are entitled to receive TTD benefits.
You generally receive TPD when you can return to work but cannot perform all of your normal tasks or have to work fewer hours due to your illness or injury. If you are able to work but not at your pre-injury level and pay, temporary partial disability benefits help make up the difference between your reduced salary and what you were making before.
What is the difference between TTD and TPD?
The main difference between temporary total disability (TTD) and temporary partial disability (TPD) lies in how much you’re able to work while recovering.
- TTD applies when your doctor says you can’t work at all due to your injury. You’ll receive wage loss benefits that replace about two-thirds of your regular pre-tax income until you’re cleared to return to work or you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI)—meaning your condition has stabilized and isn’t expected to get better with treatment.
- TPD, on the other hand, applies when you can work in some capacity—such as on light duty or with reduced hours—but are earning less than before. These benefits cover two-thirds of the difference between your pre-injury and post-injury income.
Here’s an example of how TPD benefits are calculated: Let’s say you were making $1,000 per week before your injury and now earn $600 per week on light duty. In that case, you’d receive two-thirds of the $400 difference, or about $266.67 per week, in TPD benefits.
Do you get paid full wage on workers’ comp?
No, temporary total disability (TTD) benefits provide two-thirds of your average weekly wage before your injury—not 100%.
Keep in mind, however, that both TTD and TPD benefits are tax-free. That means even though they don’t replace your full pre-injury income before taxes, the amount you take home each week is often close to what you earned before the injury.
How is the average weekly wage calculated in Colorado?
To calculate your average weekly wage (AWW) in Colorado, you’ll look at everything you typically earned before your injury—not just your regular hourly wages. This figure gives the state a fair picture of your usual income so your wage loss benefits reflect what you were actually making.
You’ll start by adding up all of your earnings, including:
- Regular pay and overtime
- Shift differentials, tips, or commissions
- Vacation or sick leave pay
- The value of extras like housing, meals, or health insurance if your employer provided them.
Once you’ve got that total, divide it by the number of weeks you worked to find your average. Another way to do it is to divide your yearly income by 52 or multiply your monthly income by 12 and then divide by 52.
If you had a second job at the time of your injury, that income can count too—just calculate each job’s average separately and combine them.
Your AWW has a direct impact on how much you’re paid while you recover, so it’s important to make sure it’s calculated correctly. If your numbers don’t seem right, consult a local Colorado workers’ compensation attorney who can review your claim and help you get the full amount you’re entitled to.
What is the maximum TTD rate in Colorado?
The maximum temporary total disability (TTD) rate in Colorado is updated annually on July 1.
For injuries that occur between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, the maximum weekly benefit is $1,396.85. To qualify for that amount, your average weekly wage at the time of your injury must have been at least $2,095.27.
When does temporary disability end?
There are several reasons why temporary disability benefits may be terminated, but here are 6 of the most common reasons:
- You go back to work at the salary and hours you had before the illness or injury. However, if you return at a lower wage, you may still be eligible for TPD.
- Your approved physician clears you to return to work as normal. This often applies even if your job is no longer available.
- Your physician clears you to return to work with a modified set of tasks and/or modified schedule.
- You reach your maximum medical improvement (MMI), meaning your physician has determined that your condition is stable and you will not improve with more medical care.
- You miss a scheduled doctor’s appointment with your authorized treating physician after being notified that doing so will cause your benefits to be terminated.
- Your employer terminates benefits because they think you were at fault for something unrelated to the injury or illness. (There is debate surrounding this reason because some employers will find unsubstantiated reasons for terminating employees to avoid paying for disability benefits.)
So, how long can I get TTD benefits in Colorado?
In Colorado, there isn’t a set number of weeks that you can receive temporary total disability (TTD) benefits. This is different from some other states that cap TTD benefits at a specific number of weeks.
In Colorado, the duration depends entirely on your medical condition and recovery timeline. As long as you’re under an approved doctor’s care, unable to work, and attend all scheduled appointments, you’re generally entitled to keep receiving TTD benefits.
What can I do if my temporary disability benefits are stopped?
If you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI) and you aren’t able to fully recover from your illness or injury, you may be eligible for permanent partial disability (PPD) or permanent total disability (PTD).
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) defines PPD as “a permanent loss of function to a body part or body system (nervous system, respiratory system, digestive system, etc.).” To qualify for PPD, your authorized treating physician has to evaluate your condition and assign a percentage to your permanent injury. From there, you may fall into one of 2 categories: scheduled impairment or non-scheduled impairment.
If your illness or injury is so severe that you cannot work or collect any wages after you’ve reached your MMI, you may qualify for permanent total disability. In this case, you are paid a weekly amount based on the average wage for the rest of your life.
Need help getting temporary disability benefits after a work injury in Denver?
Working through disability benefits can be difficult, especially when you’re dealing with a debilitating illness or injury. The sad truth is that many Colorado workers’ compensation insurers will find any excuse not to pay you the benefits you’re promised under Colorado law.
If you’re having trouble getting the workers’ comp benefits you’re owed, our work injury attorneys in Golden, Aspen, Boulder, or Denver are ready to step in and advocate on your behalf. We’re a local work injury law firm that’s proud to serve workers all across Colorado.
Contact the team at Babcock Tucker today to schedule a free consultation and find out how we can help you get the benefits you need to heal and move forward.
Serving Injured Workers Throughout Colorado
From our office in Denver, we represent injured workers across the state—including in Colorado Springs, Littleton, Boulder, Aurora, Broomfield, Louisville, Lafayette, Lakewood, Golden, Thornton, Westminster, Longmont, Loveland, Fort Collins and many other Colorado cities.
