If You're Unable to Work

If You’re Unable to Work After an Injury

Following an injury on the job, chances are you will experience at least some period of time where you’re unable to work. Perhaps the doctor will release you to work with limited restrictions. Or, you may be unable to work at all. Either way, Texas Workers Compensation law provides a way for you to receive a fair amount of your lost wages.

Temporary Income Benefits (or, TIBS) are first and foremost, a type of income replacement benefit. They will provide up to 70% of your average weekly wage while you’re unable to earn as much as you’re used to, because of your injury.

TIBS are calculated based on your gross average weekly wage for the previous 13 weeks of pay that you received before you were injured. It is important to make sure that you’re getting the right amount of TIBS early on, because other benefit amounts will rise and fall depending on what your average weekly wage has been determined to be.

Released to Light Duty

If you are released to light (or limited) duty, then your doctor must specify in writing exactly what you are and aren’t allowed to do because of your injury. Then, if your employer feels that there is a job available that will accommodate your doctor’s restrictions, you may be offered a job to work within those restrictions.

Completely Unable to Work

If your doctor determines that you are unable to work at all, then you will be eligible to receive Temporary Income Benefits as described above. Again, it’s important to make sure that this benefit is calculated correctly. More often than not, mistakes in calculating the weekly benefit amount is in the insurance company’s favor.

Contact us at 281-804-6882 and we will answer your questions right away.