Temporary partial disability is a wage benefit you receive when a work injury forces you to earn less for a while. It does not replace all of your lost pay. Instead, it covers part of the gap between your old wage and your new, lower one. For example, your doctor may put you on light duty. As a result, you work fewer hours or a slower job. This benefit helps fill in some of that missing income until you heal.
What Temporary Partial Disability Means
Think of temporary partial disability as a partial paycheck for a partial loss. You were hurt at work. However, you are not fully out of work. You can still do something, just not everything. So your employer or the insurer pays you part of the wages you lost. This benefit is temporary. It ends once you heal or your condition stabilizes.
Here is a real-world example. Maria worked full time and earned $900 a week. After a back strain, her doctor limited her to light duty. Now she earns only $600 a week. She lost $300 in weekly wages. As a result, she receives about $200 a week on top of her smaller paycheck.
This benefit exists in most states, though the name and math can differ slightly. Some states call it TPD. Typically, the goal is the same. It keeps some income flowing while you work in a reduced role. It is not a settlement. It is a weekly wage-replacement check.
How Temporary Partial Disability Is Calculated
The math is simpler than it looks. First, find your average weekly wage before the injury. Next, subtract what you can earn now in your lighter role. That gives your wage loss. Then, in most cases, you receive two-thirds (66⅔%) of that loss. However, every state sets a maximum weekly amount you cannot go above.
For example, say you earned $1,200 a week before, and now you earn $600. Your wage loss is $600. Two-thirds of $600 is $400. So your temporary partial disability check would be about $400 a week. Your state’s cap could lower that figure, but not your two-thirds rate.
The weekly cap varies by state. Below are real 2026 maximums from official sources. These caps apply to temporary partial disability and other wage benefits alike.
| State | How the benefit is figured | 2026 maximum weekly benefit |
|---|---|---|
| California | Two-thirds of the wage difference | $1,764.11 |
| New York | Two-thirds of the wage difference | $1,222.42 (through June 30, 2026); $1,281.50 starting July 1, 2026 |
| Florida | 80% of (80% of your average weekly wage − current earnings), capped at 66⅔% of your wage | $1,358.00 |
Florida works a little differently. It pays 80% of the gap between 80% of your old wage and your new earnings. However, that amount can never top two-thirds of your average weekly wage. Numbers like these change every year. Always confirm the exact figure with your state workers’ compensation board and a licensed attorney.
Who Qualifies for Temporary Partial Disability
You may qualify for temporary partial disability if three things are true. First, a doctor cleared you to work with restrictions. Second, you actually return to some work. Third, you earn less than before because of those restrictions. In most cases, the wage gap must be real and tied to your injury.
This benefit is temporary by design. Typically, it lasts until one of two things happens. You recover and return to full wages. Or you reach maximum medical improvement, known as MMI. MMI means your doctor decides you are as healed as you will get. At that point, the payments stop.
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Some states also cap the total weeks you can collect. For example, Florida limits combined temporary benefits to 260 weeks. Other states tie the limit to MMI alone. As a result, your timeline depends on your state’s rules and your recovery.
How It Fits Into Your Overall Claim
Temporary partial disability is just one piece of your claim. It covers wages while you heal and work part-time. It is different from temporary total disability, which pays when you cannot work at all. It is also different from permanent disability, which addresses lasting damage after MMI.
These benefits often come in order. For example, you might get temporary total disability first while fully off work. Then, as you improve, you shift to light-duty pay. Finally, at MMI, your case may move toward a permanent disability rating or a settlement.
A settlement can fold in past and future wage losses, medical care, and any permanent impairment. However, settlement values vary widely by state, injury, and wage. These estimates are illustrative, and every case is different. Before you sign anything, confirm the numbers with your state workers’ comp board and a licensed attorney.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is temporary partial disability taxed?
In most cases, workers’ comp wage benefits are not subject to federal or state income tax. This usually includes temporary partial disability. However, confirm your situation with a tax professional, since other income can affect it.
Can my employer fire me while I collect it?
Your job protection depends on your state and other laws. Workers’ comp itself does not always guarantee your job. However, firing you for filing a claim is illegal in many states. Confirm your rights with a licensed attorney.
What if my employer has no light-duty work?
If no light duty exists, you may qualify for temporary total disability instead. That benefit pays more because you have no earnings at all. Typically, your doctor’s restrictions and your employer’s offers decide which benefit applies.
See your state’s exact numbers
What you are owed depends on your state’s benefit caps and deadlines. Start with your state’s settlement and claim guides for the exact figures.
Sources & How to Verify
The figures on this page come from official government and industry sources. Workers’ comp benefit caps, deadlines, and rules change, so always confirm the exact figure with your state’s workers’ comp board or a licensed attorney before acting. Settlement estimates are illustrative, and every case is different.
- Your state workers’ comp board, division, or commission: the official source for your state’s exact caps, deadlines, and forms — search “[your state] workers compensation board”
- U.S. Department of Labor (OWCP): dol.gov — federal workers’ compensation overview
- NCCI: ncci.com — workers’ comp rating and benefit data
- Social Security Administration: ssa.gov — benefit-cap and SSDI offset data
- Insurance Information Institute: iii.org — neutral workers’ comp background
Content last reviewed June 2026. If you notice an outdated figure, please contact us.
Related Guides
- Workers Comp Settlements by State (All 50)
- Workers Comp Claims by State (All 50)
- More in This Category
- Settlements by Injury
- Benefits Explained
- Workers Comp Glossary
Informational only — not legal, medical, or financial advice. Workers Comp Explained is an independent educational resource, not a law firm, insurer, or medical or financial advisor, and this page does not provide legal, medical, or financial advice. Workers’ compensation benefits, deadlines, and rules vary by state and change over time, and settlement estimates are illustrative only. Always confirm the exact figure and any deadline with your state’s workers’ compensation board and a licensed attorney before you act.