Georgia Workers' Compensation: Fast Facts
Coverage Requirements Under Georgia State Law
Businesses with at least three employees must have Georgia workers' compensation insurance.
Work-Related Injury or Illness Reporting Requirements
Tell your supervisor about your work-related injury in writing as soon as possible, but within 30 days. Failing to do so before this deadline passes may disqualify you from claiming Georgia workers' compensation benefits. Then, your employer should provide you with a list of doctors who are authorized to treat you.
Where to Seek Medical Care
Your employer's insurance provider has a list of authorized providers for treating work-related injuries and illnesses. Ask your supervisor which doctor you're allowed to see, or for a list of authorized healthcare providers. Going to your own doctor or the nearest healthcare facility without prior authorization means you must pay those medical bills.
Waiting Period for Lost-Wage Benefits in Georgia
Your first 7 days off work are always unpaid until 21 days after your first missed job shift. Once you're off the job longer than that, your employer's insurer pays you for that first missed week of work. If you can go back to work in less than a week, you'll only qualify for medical benefits.
Georgia Workers' Compensation Statute of Limitations
You have one year from you job injury or illness diagnosis date to file your workers' compensation claim in Georgia.
Georgia Weekly Compensation Rate
You can receive 66 2/3% of Georgia's gross average weekly wage in wage-loss benefits paid once every 2 weeks. This amount is subject to the state's current maximum and minimum benefit limits approved for each calendar year.
How Long You Can Receive Georgia Workers' Comp Benefits
- Medical benefits: unlimited
- Death benefits: lump-sum payment of $3,500 for funeral and burial expenses and TTD payments equal to 80% of the maximum rate for that calendar year
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD): up to 400 weeks
- Temporary Partial Disability (TPD): up to 350 weeks
- Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): up to 400 weeks or duration of disability if it meets the state's definition of “catastrophic”
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD): up to 400 weeks or duration of disability if it meets the state's definition of “catastrophic”
Georgia Workers' Comp Coverage Exemptions
The following employees are automatically exempt from Georgia workers' compensation coverage:
- Farmers and farm workers (through they can elect to opt into insurance coverage if they choose to do and notify the state)
- Federal employees
- Independent contractors
- Railroad workers
- Sole proprietors
Georgia Workers' Compensation Attorney Fees
All Georgia workers' compensation attorneys work on contingency. Legal fees may equal up to 25% of your final settlement award if your case succeeds. Otherwise, you owe your lawyer $0.