If you're hurt or get sick because of your job, we're here to help, and we care about your recovery. California workers’ compensation can pay for your medical care and part of the wages you lose while you heal. The benefits you receive depend on your claim.

Below is a quick look at workers’ comp benefits. It's hard to say how much you could get, or for how long. Your claims adjuster can tell you what fits your case. Please reach out with any questions. We want to make this as easy as possible for you.

Overview of benefits

Temporary Disability

If you miss work for more than three calendar days, you may get part of your lost wages. This is called Temporary Disability.

Temporary Disability benefits usually end when you go back to work. They also end if your primary treating physician says you can work again or when your benefits run out. If your doctor says you won’t get better, temporary benefits stop but you may qualify for Permanent Disability benefits.

Permanent Disability

Your doctor will determine if you qualify for Permanent Disability. A separate doctor, known as a qualified medical evaluator (QME) may check you too. If you have an attorney, a doctor called an agreed medical evaluator (AME) may also examine you.

Payment usually starts within 14 days after Temporary Disability ends. We figure out the total you are owed and payment is made until the benefit is paid in full. If we need more time, we keep paying until a reasonable estimate is paid.

Payment of benefits

Temporary and Permanent Disability both pay two-thirds of your average weekly wages at the time you were hurt. The rate is subject to minimum and maximum amounts that depend on the date and type of injury.

You’ll get a payment every two weeks while you qualify. We'll mail you a check unless you choose a debit card. We recommend the debit card because it's easy and safe.

Note: If you choose the debit card, sign up and turn it on as soon as we accept your claim. Do this even if you don’t know yet whether you’ll get payments. Your money will come faster once you qualify. Read about our debit card program or ask your claims adjuster.

For benefit amounts, visit the California Department of Industrial Relations Workers’ Compensation Benefits.

Death benefits

When the unthinkable happens, we want your loved ones to be taken care of. If a worker dies because of a job injury or illness, their surviving dependents may receive monetary benefits to help replace the lost income.

Supplemental job displacement benefits

If your injury caused Permanent Disability and you can’t go back to your old job, you may get Supplemental Job Displacement Benefits. This benefit helps you learn new skills so you can find work. You’ll receive a nontransferable voucher that covers school tuition, fees, books, and expenses required by the school for training.

Learn more about Supplemental Job Displacement Benefits.