If you were hurt on the job in Georgia, the first question on your mind is almost certainly: how much does workers’ comp actually pay? The short answer is two-thirds of your average weekly wage, subject to a state-imposed cap — but the real answer depends on the type of benefit, how long you are out of work, and whether your injury qualifies as catastrophic. This guide breaks down every category of Georgia workers’ compensation benefits in plain English so you know exactly what you are owed.
The Basic Formula: Two-Thirds of Your Average Weekly Wage
Georgia workers’ compensation income benefits are calculated under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-260. The starting point is your average weekly wage (AWW) — the average of your gross earnings over the 13 weeks immediately before your injury, including overtime, bonuses, and the fair value of any employer-provided housing or meals.
Once your AWW is established, most income benefits pay two-thirds (66⅔%) of that amount. If you earned $900 per week before the injury, your weekly benefit would be $600. If you earned $1,500, the math gives you $1,000 — but the state cap (discussed below) limits what you can actually receive.
2026 Maximum and Minimum Weekly Benefits
Georgia law sets both a ceiling and a floor on weekly income benefits:
- Maximum weekly benefit: $800 per week for injuries occurring on or after July 1, 2023 (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-261). This means even if two-thirds of your AWW comes out to $1,200, you are capped at $800.
- Minimum weekly benefit: $50 per week — unless your actual weekly wage was less than $50, in which case you receive your full average weekly wage.
The maximum benefit rate is reviewed periodically by the State Board of Workers’ Compensation. It has been $800 since July 1, 2023 and remains at that level for injuries in 2026.
Temporary Total Disability (TTD) Benefits
TTD benefits are the most common type of workers’ comp income benefit in Georgia. You receive TTD when your authorized treating physician says you cannot work at all while you recover.
- Rate: Two-thirds of your AWW, up to $800 per week.
- Waiting period: Benefits do not start until you have missed more than seven consecutive days of work. If you are out for 21 or more consecutive days, the insurer must go back and pay you for those first seven days (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-261).
- Duration: Up to 400 weeks from the date of injury for non-catastrophic claims. If your injury is designated catastrophic under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-200.1, there is no 400-week cap and TTD benefits can continue for life.
Example: You earn $1,050 per week as a warehouse worker in Atlanta and tear your rotator cuff on the job. Two-thirds of $1,050 is $700. Because $700 is below the $800 cap, your weekly TTD check would be $700 for every week your doctor keeps you completely out of work.
Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) Benefits
TPD benefits apply when you can return to work but your injury prevents you from earning your full pre-injury wage — for example, you go back on light duty at reduced hours or in a lower-paying position.
- Rate: Two-thirds of the difference between your pre-injury AWW and your current earnings (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-262).
- Maximum: Currently capped at $533 per week.
- Duration: Up to 350 weeks from the date of injury.
Example: Your pre-injury AWW was $900 and you return to light-duty work earning $500 per week. The difference is $400. Two-thirds of $400 is $266.67 — that is your weekly TPD check on top of the $500 you earn at work.
Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) Benefits
PPD benefits compensate you for the permanent loss of function to a body part after you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI). Georgia uses a body-part schedule set out in O.C.G.A. § 34-9-263 that assigns a fixed number of weeks to each body part:
- Arm: 225 weeks
- Leg: 225 weeks
- Hand: 160 weeks
- Foot: 135 weeks
- Thumb: 60 weeks
- Index finger: 40 weeks
- Eye: 150 weeks
- Hearing (one ear): 75 weeks
- Hearing (both ears): 150 weeks
Your PPD benefit is calculated by multiplying three numbers together:
- Your impairment rating (a percentage assigned by your treating physician using the AMA Guides, 5th Edition)
- The number of scheduled weeks for the injured body part
- Two-thirds of your AWW (up to the $800 weekly cap)
Example: You suffer a knee injury rated at 20% impairment to the leg. PPD = 20% × 225 weeks × your weekly TTD rate. If your TTD rate is $600, you would receive $600 per week for 45 weeks (225 × 0.20), totaling $27,000 in PPD benefits.
For injuries to parts of the body not on the schedule — such as the back, neck, or head — Georgia allows up to 300 weeks of PPD benefits based on the impairment rating and its impact on your ability to work.
Medical Benefits
In addition to income benefits, Georgia workers’ comp covers all reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to your workplace injury. This includes:
- Doctor visits and specialist referrals
- Surgery and hospitalization
- Prescription medications
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Diagnostic imaging (X-rays, MRIs, CT scans)
- Prosthetic devices and durable medical equipment
- Mileage reimbursement for travel to medical appointments
There is one critical rule: you must treat with a physician from your employer’s posted panel of at least six doctors (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-201). If you treat outside the panel without authorization, the insurer can refuse to pay those bills. If your employer never posted a valid panel, you generally have the right to choose your own doctor.
For non-catastrophic claims, medical benefits are subject to a 400-week cap from the date of injury under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-200. Catastrophic injuries — such as amputations, severe paralysis, or traumatic brain injuries — are exempt from this cap and can receive lifetime medical care.
What Counts as a Catastrophic Injury?
Under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-200.1, a catastrophic injury includes:
- Spinal cord injury with permanent functional loss of a limb
- Amputation of an arm, hand, foot, or leg
- Severe traumatic brain injury
- Second- or third-degree burns over 25% or more of the body
- Total or industrial blindness
- Any injury of such severity that the employee is rendered permanently unable to perform any work available in substantial numbers in the national economy
A catastrophic designation is significant: it removes the 400-week cap on both income and medical benefits, potentially providing coverage for the rest of your life.
Death Benefits
If a workplace injury results in death, Georgia law provides benefits to the worker’s dependents under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-265:
- Weekly income benefits: Two-thirds of the deceased worker’s AWW, up to the $800 cap, paid to eligible dependents for up to 400 weeks.
- Burial expenses: Up to $7,500.
Eligible dependents generally include a surviving spouse, minor children, and in some cases other family members who were financially dependent on the worker.
How to Protect Your Benefits
- Report your injury immediately. Under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-80, you must notify your employer within 30 days. Do it in writing, the same day if possible.
- File your claim on time. You have one year from the date of injury to file a WC-14 claim form with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-82). This is shorter than the two-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases.
- Treat with a panel physician. Using an unauthorized doctor can jeopardize your medical benefits.
- Keep every appointment. Gaps in treatment are the number-one way insurers devalue or suspend claims.
- Do not sign anything from the insurance company — especially a settlement agreement or Form WC-104 — without a lawyer reviewing it first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get paid for the first week I miss?
Not initially. Georgia has a seven-day waiting period. However, if you miss 21 or more consecutive days, the insurer must retroactively pay you for that first week.
Can I choose my own doctor?
Only if your employer failed to post a valid panel of physicians. Otherwise, you must select from the employer’s posted panel of at least six doctors. You can request a one-time change to another physician on the panel.
What if my employer says I was not hurt at work?
Disputes over whether an injury is work-related are common. The State Board of Workers’ Compensation holds hearings to resolve these disputes, and an experienced workers’ comp attorney can present medical evidence and witness testimony on your behalf.
Can I receive workers’ comp and a personal injury settlement?
In some cases, yes. If a third party — such as a negligent driver, a subcontractor, or a defective equipment manufacturer — contributed to your injury, you may have a separate personal injury claim in addition to your workers’ comp benefits. However, the workers’ comp insurer typically has a lien against any third-party recovery.
What happens if I am fired after filing a workers’ comp claim?
Georgia is an at-will employment state, and state law does not specifically prohibit retaliation for filing a comp claim. However, being fired does not stop your benefits — and it can actually increase what the insurer owes you. Federal laws like the ADA and FMLA may also protect your job. We explain this in detail in our guide: Can I Be Fired for Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim in Georgia?
Talk to Buddy — Your Workers’ Comp Is Worth More Than You Think
Insurance companies count on injured workers not knowing the rules. They low-ball your AWW calculation, deny authorized treatment, and pressure you into settling before you reach MMI. That is money out of your pocket.
At My Lawyer Is My Buddy, we charge just 25% attorney fees — well below the 33% industry standard — and you pay nothing unless we recover benefits for you. If you were hurt on the job anywhere in Georgia, call 678-928-7729 today for a free, no-pressure case review.
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Every case is different.