An injury at work stops your income immediately, leaving you to worry about basic household bills. Florida workers’ compensation provides temporary disability checks to replace lost pay, but the math behind those payments can seem confusing. The calculation relies on your pre-injury gross earnings, specific percentage multipliers and statutory weekly caps.
Average weekly wage forms the basis of your checks
Insurance adjusters calculate your payment rate by reviewing your gross earnings from the 13 weeks before your workplace accident. They add those 13 weeks of pay together and divide by 13 to set your average weekly wage. Gross earnings include extra money beyond your standard hourly pay:
- Overtime pay and bonuses
- Earnings from a second job
- Housing or meal values paid by your employer
Including these extra income sources ensures your starting pay number reflects your real income before you got hurt.
Temporary total disability pays two thirds of lost income
When an approved doctor says you cannot work at all, you receive temporary total disability checks. Florida law sets this standard check at 66.67% of your average weekly wage. Severe injuries qualify for a higher rate of 80% of your average weekly wage for up to 26 weeks after the accident:
- Amputation of an arm or leg
- Total blindness
- Second or third degree burns on 25% or more of your body or third degree burns on 5% or more of your face and hands
Checks paid under this severe injury rule do not have to stay under standard weekly payment limits.
Statutory caps limit standard weekly recovery amounts
State laws put a maximum cap on your weekly check no matter how much money you earned before the accident. The top weekly payment for Florida job injuries is $1,358 per week, current as of January 2026.
Understanding your options protects your family financial health
Insurance companies sometimes miscalculate income by leaving out bonuses or second jobs. Requesting a formal review of your wage numbers with an attorney helps you verify that your weekly checks match the full amount required by state law.