A chef with average weekly earnings of $1300 is injured and later returns to work part-time earning $450 per week. What is the correct wage loss temporary disability rate?

• A. 566.67
• B. 850.00
• C. 866.67
• D. 986.69

Answer: (A)

When an injured worker returns to work part-time or with reduced earnings, the temporary disability benefit that replaces wage loss is based on two-thirds of the earnings actually lost due to the injury. First, find the wage loss: pre-injury earnings minus post-injury earnings. Here, 1300 minus 450 equals 850. Then take two-thirds of that loss: 850 × 2/3 = 566.666..., which rounds to 566.67. So the wage loss temporary disability rate is 566.67. The other options would reflect either two-thirds of the full pre-injury wage (if there were no earnings at all) or the wage loss amount itself, not the two-thirds portion that California workers’ comp uses for wage-loss benefits.