How Long Does Workers' Compensation Last in Maryland?

When you put in long hours to provide for yourself and your family, every moment on the job matters. But what happens if you’re injured at work and can’t keep up with your responsibilities? Maryland’s workers’ compensation benefits are designed to ensure that you don’t lose the stability you’ve worked so hard to build. These benefits can cover medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs related to your recovery. However, understanding how long your compensation will last and making sure you receive what you’re fully entitled to is crucial in securing your future. 

With years of experience representing hardworking individuals, Portner & Shure, P.A. is dedicated to guiding you through the complexities of workers’ compensation claims. Whether it’s ensuring timely payments or maximizing the duration of your benefits, we know how to stand up to insurance companies and guard what’s yours. Don’t risk missing out on the support you’ve earned. Contact Portner & Shure, P.A. today to get the guidance you need to protect your rights and achieve the security your efforts deserve.

Understanding Maryland Workers' Compensation Benefits 

​​Understanding your workers’ compensation benefits is the first step in protecting the security you’ve earned through years of hard work. Maryland’s system includes several types of benefits, each designed to address a specific need after a workplace injury. Whether you’re out of work temporarily, coping with lasting limitations, or facing a permanent disability, knowing exactly what you’re entitled to can make a powerful difference in how you move through the recovery process.

Some of the most important benefits to understand include:

• Temporary Total Disability (TTD): This benefit provides wage replacement if your workplace injury prevents you from working at all for a period of time. Benefits continue for as long as you are completely unable to work, up to the point where your doctor determines you can return to work or your condition has reached maximum medical improvement.
• Temporary Partial Disability (TPD): This benefit is designed for workers who can return to work in a limited or light-duty capacity but earn less than they did before their injury. This support helps make up for lost income while you recover and gradually transition back to your regular job duties.
• Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): This benefit applies when a worker has a lasting impairment, such as the partial loss of function in a hand, arm, leg, or eye, but can still participate in some form of employment. Compensation for PPD is calculated based on the type and severity of the impairment, often following a schedule set by Maryland law that assigns certain values and durations to specific injuries.
• Permanent Total Disability (PTD): PTD benefits are for the most severe cases, when a workplace injury or illness leaves a person unable to perform any type of gainful employment for the rest of their life. PTD benefits provide ongoing financial support, often covering a significant percentage of pre-injury wages, and include access to continued medical treatment, rehabilitation services, and sometimes cost-of-living adjustments to help ensure long-term security.

While these basic categories are central to most claims, the rules surrounding them are complex and sometimes difficult to navigate alone. Having an experienced attorney by your side can ensure your claim is handled properly, deadlines are met, and you receive every benefit you’re entitled to without delay. 

Medical Benefits: Are There Time Limits?

In Maryland, medical benefits provided through workers’ compensation can be extensive, but time limits do apply. Generally, the law allows for payment of all reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to your work injury, but coverage may end if there are significant gaps in treatment or if certain deadlines for filing medical claims are missed. 

Specific statutes govern how long after an injury you can receive medical care, submit expenses, or pursue further treatment under your claim. Missing these important time frames can jeopardize your access to vital care. For this reason, it’s wise to consult with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney as soon as possible. Legal guidance ensures your rights are protected, your filing is timely, and you don’t risk losing the medical benefits you’ve earned through your hard work.

Factors Influencing the Duration of Your Benefits 

The length of time you can receive workers’ compensation benefits in Maryland isn’t determined by a single rule; it depends on a range of factors unique to your situation. These variables can affect how long your payments continue, the scope of your medical coverage, and even your overall financial security after an injury. Knowing what shapes your benefit duration helps you plan for the future and avoid unwanted surprises during your recovery.

Key factors that influence the length of your benefits include:

• Severity and Type of Injury: The more serious or permanent your injury, the longer you may qualify for benefits.
• Reaching Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI): Benefits often continue until you reach a point where your condition is not expected to improve further, as determined by your treating physician.
• Return to Work Status: If you’re able to return to work (even in a limited capacity), certain benefits may be reduced or discontinued.
• Role of the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission: The Commission oversees claims, disputes, and reviews, playing a critical part in benefit eligibility and duration.
• Settlements and Their Impact: Accepting a settlement can end your weekly payments and close your claim, making it vital to understand the long-term implications before agreeing.

With so many aspects shaping the outcome of your claim, having an experienced attorney is essential. A skilled workers’ compensation lawyer knows how to assess these factors, protect your rights, and take action to help you secure the maximum duration and value from your benefits. 

Navigating the Maryland Workers' Compensation System 

Understanding the process of securing and maintaining your workers’ compensation benefits in Maryland is crucial for anyone who has suffered a work-related injury. From the moment you file a claim, you must keep careful records, meet all deadlines, and comply with medical recommendations. Staying informed about your benefits and the status of your case can help prevent delays or interruptions in payment. If your benefits are unexpectedly cut off or you receive notice that your claim has been denied or closed, knowing the proper steps to challenge these decisions is crucial.

When your benefits end, it’s natural to feel concerned about your next steps, especially if you haven’t fully recovered or are still facing financial challenges. This is the time when experienced legal counsel can be invaluable. Consulting a workers’ compensation attorney can help you determine whether your benefits ended fairly, what options are available for appeals or additional compensation, and how to protect your long-term interests. An attorney’s knowledge of the system helps you make informed decisions and gives you the best possible chance of receiving everything you’re entitled to under Maryland law.

Protect Your Rights: Contact Our Maryland Workers' Comp Lawyers

Your rights and your financial security are too important to leave to chance. Navigating Maryland’s workers’ compensation system demands experience and determination, qualities you’ll find at Portner & Shure, P.A. Our team stands ready to defend your claim, confront difficult insurers, and ensure that the benefits you are entitled to are protected from start to finish. When your livelihood, health, and future are on the line, you deserve a proven advocate in your corner.

Don’t put off getting the guidance you need. If you or someone you love has suffered a work-related injury in Maryland, contact Portner & Shure, P.A. today. We offer the support, insight, and aggressive advocacy necessary to help you secure the compensation you have earned. It’s your right to make sure it’s protected.