How does temporary partial disability differ from temporary total disability?

• A. TTD is total inability to work; TPD is partial loss of earning capacity with some ability to work
• B. TPD is full wage replacement; TTD is no wage
• C. TPD is permanent; TTD is temporary
• D. TPD is not related to earnings; TTD is based on earnings

Answer: (A)

The key concept here is how benefits are tied to what the worker can do during recovery and how their earnings are affected. Temporary total disability means the worker cannot perform any work at all while they recover, so their earning capacity is effectively zero during that period. Benefits are designed to replace a substantial portion of the pre-injury wages because there is no ability to work.

Temporary partial disability, on the other hand, means there is some ability to work but with reduced earning capacity. The worker can take on light or limited duties, but their earnings are less than before. Benefits reflect that partial loss, typically providing a partial wage replacement based on the difference between what the worker could earn pre-injury and what they can earn now.