How Workers' Comp Works in Georgia
Georgia's workers' compensation system is administered by the State Board of Workers' Compensation (SBWC). Almost every business with three or more employees is required to carry coverage. If you're hurt on the job, you're generally entitled to medical care, wage-replacement benefits while you can't work, and — if the injury leaves lasting effects — a permanent partial disability award or a negotiated settlement. Here's what that looks like in plain terms, with the figures that apply in 2026.
Temporary Total Disability: What You're Paid While You Heal
While an authorized doctor keeps you out of work, Georgia pays temporary total disability (TTD) at two-thirds (66 2/3%) of your average weekly wage, calculated from the 13 weeks before your accident, up to a state maximum set by statute. For injuries on or after July 1, 2023, the maximum TTD rate is $800 per week (with a $50 weekly minimum). That cap did not change in 2024 or 2025, so it remains the current maximum in 2026 — but always confirm the figure for your specific date of injury. There's a 7-day waiting period before TTD begins; if your disability lasts 21 consecutive days or more, those first seven days are paid back retroactively.
| Georgia (2026) | Detail |
|---|---|
| TTD wage-replacement rate | 66 2/3% of average weekly wage |
| Maximum weekly TTD | $800 (injuries on/after 7/1/2023) |
| Minimum weekly TTD | $50 |
| Waiting period | 7 days (paid back if off 21+ consecutive days) |
| Max TTD duration | Up to 400 weeks (unlimited if catastrophic) |
| Deadline to file a claim | Generally 1 year from injury (Form WC-14) |
| Report injury to employer | Within 30 days |
| Choice of doctor | From the employer's posted panel of physicians |
Permanent Disability and Settlements
Once your authorized doctor decides your condition has reached "maximum medical improvement," you may receive a permanent partial disability (PPD) rating — a percentage that reflects lasting impairment to a body part or the body as a whole. That rating drives a separate PPD award, paid using statutory week values for specific body parts (for example, a hand or an arm carries a set number of weeks). Most Georgia cases ultimately resolve through a negotiated settlement rather than running benefits to their statutory limit:
- Liability settlement — the insurer accepts the claim and pays a lump sum that usually closes out indemnity and future medical care for the injury.
- No-liability settlement — the insurer disputes the claim but pays a negotiated lump sum to resolve and close the disputed case.
Either way, a Georgia settlement generally must be approved by the State Board to be final. A lump sum gives you cash now, but it typically shifts the risk of future treatment costs onto you, so the value of your future medical care is a central part of the math.
The Doctor Question (A Big One in Georgia)
Unlike an ordinary doctor's visit, you usually can't simply see your own physician and bill the claim. Georgia employers are required to post a valid panel of physicians — generally a list of at least six approved providers — where employees can see it. You choose your treating doctor from that panel, and you're allowed to switch to a different doctor on the same panel one time without anyone's permission. Because the authorized treating doctor's opinion drives your work restrictions, your impairment rating, and ultimately the money, getting this right early matters. If the panel is invalid, incomplete, or was never posted, you may gain more freedom to choose your own physician.
Heads up: Georgia's maximum weekly benefit is set by statute and has historically been raised for injuries on or after July 1 of certain years (most recently to $800 for injuries on or after July 1, 2023, unchanged through 2025). The maximum that applies is the one in effect on your date of injury — always confirm the current figure with the Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation.
Deadlines You Can't Miss
Report your injury to your employer within 30 days — in writing if you can, even though Georgia doesn't strictly require written notice — and file your claim with the State Board on Form WC-14 generally within one year of the date of injury. Different limitation periods can apply depending on whether weekly benefits or authorized medical treatment have already been provided, which can shorten or extend the window, so don't wait to act. Missing the deadline can bar your claim entirely.
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