Time-loss benefits in Oregon usually replace two-thirds of your gross weekly wage when a work injury prevents you from working. As of October 2026, the weekly maximum for recent injury dates is $1,943.41. Your payment depends on your wages, injury date and medical authorization.
This guide explains the calculation, the three-day waiting period and what to check if payments are short or stop. At Schoenfeld & Schoenfeld, we help injured workers across Hood River, The Dalles and Eastern Oregon challenge underpaid and wrongly stopped benefits.
Also Read
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- How We Help Injured Workers Secure Benefits
TL;DR
Check the wage figure used to calculate your benefits, keep your medical work restrictions current and review every payment. A return to reduced work can change the amount. If checks stop, ask for the reason in writing.
Key Points
- Time-loss replaces part of the earnings you lose because of a work injury.
- The usual calculation for injuries before January 1, 2027 is two-thirds of your gross weekly wage, subject to legal limits and adjustments.
- Your injury date affects the maximum and calculation rules.
- The first three days are usually unpaid, with exceptions for qualifying hospitalization or continuous total disability.
- Medical authorization and work restrictions affect your eligibility.
- Reduced hours or lower earnings can qualify you for partial benefits.
If your checks look wrong, schedule a complimentary consultation. We can review the wage calculation and payment history with you.
What Time-Loss (Wage-Loss) Benefits Are
Time-loss is Oregon’s term for temporary disability payments that replace part of your lost earnings. Medical benefits pay for treatment. Permanent disability benefits address lasting impairment. Time-loss covers eligible wage loss during your recovery.
The rules come from Chapter 656 of the Oregon Revised Statutes. The Workers’ Compensation Division explains when lost wages qualify for payment.
The state also calls these payments “wage-loss benefits.” You’ll see both terms in claim documents. They differ from short-term disability insurance, FMLA and Paid Leave Oregon. Our guide to workers’ comp vs. disability and FMLA in Oregon explains how those programs fit together.
How Much Does Workers’ Comp Pay in Oregon?
For injuries before January 1, 2027, the usual starting calculation is two-thirds of your gross weekly wage. A worker earning $900 a week would have a starting benefit of about $600. Minimums, maximums and later adjustments can affect the result.
The Oregon time-loss FAQ explains the basic wage-replacement calculation. Your wage at injury can include more than your base hourly pay. Depending on the applicable rules, the insurer may need to consider:
- Overtime
- Reported tips and bonuses
- Board or lodging provided as part of your pay
- Qualifying earnings from another job
SAIF’s guide to payments for lost wages explains how earnings affect benefits. Ask the insurer for its wage calculation. Compare it with your pay records, especially if your hours varied.
Oregon Time-Loss Rates for 2026-27
Oregon’s state average weekly wage is $1,461.21 for July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The published maximum for injury dates from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2027 is $1,943.41 a week. Older injury dates can have different maximums.
These figures come from Workers’ Compensation Division Bulletin 111. The examples below use the two-thirds formula for injuries before January 1, 2027.
| Gross weekly wage | Two-thirds of wages | Estimated weekly benefit |
|---|---|---|
| $900 | $600.00 | $600.00 |
| $1,200 | $800.00 | $800.00 |
| $3,000 | $2,000.00 | $1,943.41, after applying the maximum |
These examples assume full temporary disability and the stated maximum. They exclude partial-work earnings, waiting days and annual adjustments to older claims.
The Formula Changes for Injuries Starting January 1, 2027
For injuries dated January 1, 2027 onward, Oregon replaces the flat two-thirds calculation with a formula using two wage tiers. The new calculation applies 75% to the first portion of wages and 65% to the portion above the statutory threshold, subject to legal limits.
Check the updated state bulletin before using these examples for a 2027 injury. The date you were injured determines which formula applies.
The Three-Day Waiting Period
The first three calendar days of disability are usually unpaid. The waiting-period rule allows payment for those days when disability is medically authorized and either:
- Total disability continues for 14 consecutive days
- You’re admitted to a hospital as an inpatient within 14 days of the first onset of total disability
Being away from your usual job for two weeks doesn’t always satisfy the rule. A release to modified work can affect whether those first three days qualify.
If you meet an exception, check whether the insurer included the waiting days in a later payment. Talk to our Oregon workers’ comp team if the payment history doesn’t match your medical records.
When Your First Time-Loss Payment Is Due
Your first eligible payment must be issued by day 14 after your employer knows about both your claim and disability, with medical authorization. A mailed check may arrive later. Report the injury and file Form 801 promptly.
If the insurer takes longer than 14 days to decide, eligible interim time-loss is payable while it reviews the claim. A denial within the first 14 days can prevent payment. The state’s getting paid for time off page explains these rules.
Time-Loss From a Second Job
Lost earnings from another job may qualify for supplemental benefits. Tell the insurer about that job immediately. The state advises notification within 30 days of injury. Keep wage records and medical restrictions covering both jobs.
Full Time-Loss vs Partial Time-Loss
Your work capacity and earnings determine which type of temporary disability benefit applies.
Temporary Total Disability
Temporary total disability applies when your work injury prevents you from working and you meet the medical and legal requirements. The insurer calculates full time-loss using the wage formula and limits that apply to your claim.
Temporary Partial Disability
If you return to reduced hours or lower-paid modified work, you may qualify for temporary partial disability. The calculation accounts for reduced earnings. Returning to work doesn’t automatically mean every wage benefit ends.
Both types depend on accurate medical records. Your attending provider’s role includes documenting your work status. Keep copies of restrictions, releases and changes to your hours.
When Time-Loss Benefits Stop
Payments can stop or change when you’re released to regular work, return to your regular job or your claim closes. Other legal grounds can also affect payment. An open claim alone doesn’t guarantee continued time-loss.
Before refusing modified work, check the offer against your medical restrictions. Refusing work approved by your attending provider can affect your benefits.
The Oregon State Bar’s guide to what workers should know and the Workers’ Compensation Division’s FAQ publication explain temporary benefits and claim processing.
If payments stop and you disagree, you have the right to challenge the decision. You can also contact the Ombuds Office for Oregon Workers at 800-927-1271.
Ask the insurer for the reason in writing. Gather your payment records, work releases and claim notices. Schoenfeld & Schoenfeld handles disputed benefit cutoffs. You can read about the firm’s workers’ compensation results.
6 Time-Loss Facts Every Injured Oregon Worker Should Know
- Your wage records help you check the insurer’s calculation.
- Your injury date affects the formula and maximum.
- A waiting-period exception can make the first three days payable.
- Reduced work can lead to partial benefits.
- Current medical restrictions help document your eligibility.
- A payment cutoff can be challenged.
Time-Loss Benefits FAQ
What is time-loss in workers’ comp?
Time-loss is temporary disability compensation that replaces part of the wages you lose because of a work injury. Oregon also calls it wage-loss benefits.
How much does workers’ comp pay in Oregon?
For injuries before January 1, 2027, the usual starting calculation is two-thirds of gross weekly wages. As of October 2026, the weekly maximum for recent injury dates is $1,943.41. Older claims can have different limits and adjustments. A new formula applies to injuries dated January 1, 2027 onward.
How long can you be on workers’ comp in Oregon?
There’s no single number of weeks that applies to every claim. Time-loss continues while you meet the medical and legal requirements. A regular-work release, return to work, claim closure or another legal ground can change or end payments. Medical benefits follow separate rules.
When will I get my first time-loss check?
The first eligible payment must be issued by day 14 after your employer knows about your claim and disability, with medical authorization. Issuing a payment and receiving a mailed check can happen on different days.
Are time-loss benefits taxed?
Workers’ compensation payments for occupational injury or illness are usually exempt from federal income tax. Wages earned doing light-duty work remain taxable. Social Security offsets can create exceptions. IRS Publication 525 explains the federal rules.
Get Help With Underpaid or Stopped Time-Loss
If your checks look short, start with the insurer’s wage calculation. Compare it with your pay records and medical work restrictions. If payments stopped, ask which decision or document caused the cutoff.
Schoenfeld & Schoenfeld has represented Oregon’s injured workers since 1991. Attorney Steve Schoenfeld has personally handled thousands of workers’ compensation hearings. Our bilingual staff serves Hood River, The Dalles and Eastern Oregon.
Contact Schoenfeld & Schoenfeld for a complimentary consultation about your time-loss payments and next steps.
