If you are unable to work as a result of your injury or disease, you will be paid a portion of your regular wages. These taxfree benefits are called timeloss payments. They are based on a percentage of your wages, your marital status and the number of legally dependent children you have at the time of your injury. The Washington State Supreme Court has also ruled that employerpaid healthcare benefits may also be included when calculating a worker`s gross wage at the time of an onthejob injury. The timeloss compensation benefit, or wage replacement the worker receives while off work, is based on this gross wage and now must include:
- Pretax earnings
- Bonuses
- Tips
- Value of any room, board, housing or fuel provided to the worker.
- Employerpaid health care benefits for the worker and family.
The timeloss compensation benefit may be 6075 percent of this gross wage up to the maximum monthly benefit, which is based on the state`s average wage. Timeloss is paid if you are unable to work for more than the three days immediately following the date of your injury. The three days immediately following the injury are a waiting period. Even if you try to return to work following your injury, you may receive timeloss benefits for the first three days if you are unable to continue working and are disabled on the 14th day after the injury.
