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California law sets clear time limits for most benefits, but several exceptions and extensions may apply towards your workers’ compensation claim in California.
Temporary disability (TD) benefits replace part of your lost wages while you recover and cannot work. California allows you to receive TD benefits for up to 104 weeks within a five-year period from the date of your injury. These weeks do not need to be consecutive.If your condition qualifies as severe—such as burns, amputations, chronic lung disease, or certain post-surgical complications—you can receive benefits for up to 240 weeks. Temporary disability payments when:
Once temporary benefits end, you may become eligible for permanent disability or job retraining assistance, depending on your condition.
If your injury causes lasting limitations, you may qualify for permanent disability (PD) benefits. These payments depend on your disability rating, which considers factors such as your injury, age, job type, and medical condition. There is no fixed length of time for receiving permanent disability. Instead, you receive weekly payments for a set number of weeks based on your percentage rating. For example:
If your disability is total (100%), you may receive payments for life. Contact our Orange County workers’ compensation lawyers at Aegis Law to discuss your workers’ comp claim today.
There is no time limit for receiving medical care for a work-related injury in California. As long as your authorized treating physician confirms that you need ongoing treatment for your injury or condition, workers’ compensation insurance must continue to pay for it. This includes:
The insurer may conduct periodic reviews, but they cannot legally deny care that your doctor deems medically necessary and related to your original injury.
If your employer cannot offer you a suitable job after your injury, you may qualify for Supplemental Job Displacement Benefits (SJDB). This is a one-time $6,000 voucher for retraining or education. You must use this benefit within five years of your injury.
Q: Can I stay on workers’ compensation for life in California?
A: You may receive lifetime medical care for your work-related injury if your doctor confirms it is medically necessary. Permanent disability payments can also last for life if you are deemed 100% permanently disabled.
Q: What happens when my 104 weeks of temporary disability runs out?
A: Once your temporary disability benefits expire, you may be evaluated for permanent disability or job retraining assistance. In some cases, you may also qualify for State Disability Insurance (SDI) or Social Security Disability (SSDI).
Q: Can I return to work and still receive some workers’ comp benefits?
A: You may still qualify for medical treatment or permanent disability payments even if you return to work, especially if you have lasting limitations or require follow-up care.
Q: Can the insurance company stop my benefits without warning?
A: The insurer must notify you in writing before stopping or reducing benefits. If your doctor finds you have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI), that may trigger a change in your benefit status—but they must explain the reason.