When the treating physician takes an employee off work due to a work related injury, the workers' compensation insurance carrier may be required to make temporary total disability, or wage replacement, benefit payments to the injured employee. If the injured employee has not been allowed to return to work by the treating physician, the first payment is due within fifteen days of the employer’s knowledge of the injury and benefits should be paid at least semi-monthly.
In order to qualify for workers’ compensation payments, an injured employee must have a doctor's statement for time off from work. Workers’ compensation payments are not required to be paid for the first seven days of missed work. However, payments begin with the eighth missed workday. If the doctor’s statement covers more than fourteen days, the employee will be entitled to wage replacement benefits retroactive to the first day of missed work.