What This Tennessee Estimate Does
This calculator helps injured workers, employers, and advisors create a careful wage benefit estimate. It focuses on common Tennessee benefit math. It does not decide a claim. It does not replace legal or medical advice. It gives a structured starting point for review.
Why Average Weekly Wage Matters
The average weekly wage is the base of most results. Many claims use gross wages from the weeks before injury. Regular pay, overtime, and steady extras can matter. Enter a direct average when it is known. Or paste weekly wages and let the tool average them.
Temporary Benefit Planning
Temporary total disability is used when the doctor keeps the worker off work. The tool applies the seven day waiting rule. If missed time reaches fourteen days, it counts from the first day. Temporary partial disability is different. It compares pre injury wages with light duty earnings.
Permanent Benefit Planning
Permanent partial disability often depends on a medical impairment rating. It also depends on the assigned weeks for the injured body part or body as a whole. The multiplier field lets you model later adjustments. Use it for planning only. Final awards depend on facts, records, and law.
Using Caps and Extra Costs
Tennessee rates can change by injury date. The default fields can be edited. Check the official chart before relying on a result. Medical costs are shown separately because approved medical care is usually handled outside wage math. Funeral costs are optional for death claim planning.
Practical Review Tips
Save the CSV file for spreadsheets. Save the PDF for claim notes. Compare several scenarios. Try a low, middle, and high impairment rating. Change return to work earnings for light duty plans. Small wage changes can affect a weekly benefit. Keep copies of wage records, restrictions, and benefit notices.
What To Check Before Filing
Review the injury date first. Then confirm the matching minimum and maximum rates. Match the benefit type to the doctor restrictions. A wrong category can change the estimate. Ask whether missed days include weekends or scheduled workdays only. Also check whether light duty wages include overtime, bonuses, or reduced hours. Good records make every review cleaner and more consistent during later settlement talks.