Georgia lawmakers to consider raising disability limits

Lawmakers in Georgia are considering increases to the upper limits of temporary disability payments and death benefits for spouses of workers who die as a result of an injury or accident.

H.B. 1409, introduced Tuesday, would raise weekly benefits for temporary disability to equal to two-thirds of the employee’s average weekly wage but not more than $725 per week, up from the current $675.

For partial and temporary disability the weekly benefit would be equal to two-thirds of the difference between the average weekly wage before the injury and the average weekly wage the employee is able to earn thereafter, but not more than $483 per week, up from the current $450.

For death benefits, the total compensation payable to a surviving spouse as a sole dependent at the time of death and where there is no other dependent for one year or less after the death of the employee shall “in no case” exceed $290,000, up from the current $270,000.