More Than 80 Years Of Combined Legal Experience In The State Of Washington

L&I Time-Loss Benefits Lawyers In Yakima

Last updated on May 12, 2025

If you’re missing work because of an injury on your job – or conditions at work made you ill over time – you’re dealing with a host of problems all at once:

Paychecks stop.
Bills grow.
Pain and other symptoms slow you down.
Mental anguish, including anger, anxiety and depression, makes you feel hopeless.

Workers’ compensation benefits go a long way toward helping you reach a better time in your life.

Benefits include payments for a portion of the paychecks you’re missing. But how much do you get? And when do you get it?

The experienced workers’ comp lawyers at Bothwell Hamill & Sutton, PLLC, can help you navigate Washington’s workers’ comp system.

We help hardworking people in Yakima, Kennewick, Sunnyside, Spokane, Richland, Ellensburg, Wenatchee, Walla Walla and all across Central Washington get the benefits they’re owed.

L&I Time-Loss Benefits: How It Works

Most employers in Washington have workers’ comp coverage through the Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I). Some employers choose to self-insure for workers’ comp.

If your doctor has certified that you’re unable to work because of your workplace illness or injury – and your claims manager has received that verification – workers’ comp benefits may start paying for a percentage of the pay you’re losing.

In Washington, this is called “time-loss” compensation, although you may have heard it referred to as “lost wages,” a term used in some other areas of the country.

The first three consecutive days of work you miss immediately following your injury or the onset of your illness are considered a waiting period. After that, your benefits start.

This is how these benefits work:

You’ll receive between 60% and 75% of what you were earning on the job.
The exact amount depends on your marital status and number of children.
Your time-loss checks are also limited to a maximum amount that changes over time, based on Washington state’s average wage.
You’ll receive your first check within 14 days of L&I or your employer getting notice from your doctor that you can’t work.
The checks come twice a month.
Your checks continue as long as your doctor says you can’t work.

At Bothwell Hamill & Sutton, PLLC, we don’t charge anything for you to tell us about your case, so we can help determine what’s best for you.

How Are My Workers’ Compensation Benefits Calculated?

When you’re hurt on the job in Washington State—and now you can’t work—you should get checks to cover some of the pay you’re missing as part of your workers’ compensation benefits. These are called “time loss” benefits in Washington. In many states, they’re called “lost wages.” They don’t cover your whole paycheck, but the financial assistance can still be a lifesaver. Find out how time loss benefits work in this chart from the Central Washington workers’ comp attorneys at Bothwell Hamill & Sutton, PLLC.

Get Help Winning Maximum Benefits

You can count on certain facts:

Your employer and their insurance company are looking out for themselves, not you. Their goal is to save money.
Your employer and their insurance company will have legal representation.
You’re in an unfamiliar situation, but they deal with this all the time.

You need someone on your side who has the knowledge and experience to navigate L&I workers’ comp, which has its own separate legal system.

You need an experienced lawyer (not just an “advocate” or a paralegal) to make sure you receive all the time-loss compensation available to you.

An experienced lawyer does all of this for you:

Communicates with the workers’ comp insurer.
Makes sure you don’t make mistakes, such as missing any deadlines or important steps.
Makes sure you properly fill out all the right forms.
Gathers medical evidence to support your L&I claim.
Negotiates a good settlement.
Represents you at an L&I hearing during an appeal.
Makes sure the payments you receive are timely and in the right amounts.

Even if you think you have a “slam-dunk” case and that nothing could possibly prevent L&I or a workers’ comp judge from approving your claim, a lot can go wrong.

Don’t take that chance with your health and well-being – or your income.

What Can You Do If Your Time-Loss Payment Is Late Or Missing?

If your time-loss payment is late or missing, contact your claims manager at the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) to check the status of your compensation claim. Sometimes, delays occur because paperwork from medical providers is incomplete or has not been submitted. Make sure your attending doctor has submitted the required Activity Prescription Form (APF) promptly.

You can also ask your compensation lawyer to follow up with L&I, especially if communication breaks down. If the delay continues without a clear explanation, file a written complaint with L&I to push the process forward. Keep detailed records of any correspondence and paperwork submitted.

What Are Loss Of Earning Power Benefits In Washington?

In Washington, Loss of Earning Power (LEP) benefits help injured workers who return to work but earn less due to work-related injuries. LEP benefits cover a portion of the difference between your pre-injury wages and your current earnings as long as the reduction is directly related to your injury.

To qualify, your medical providers must confirm that your physical restrictions are due to the injury, and your employer must submit wage documentation. L&I then calculates your benefits based on your compensation claim details. If your hours are cut or you are forced into a lower-paying job while healing, these benefits can provide crucial financial relief.

It is helpful to speak with a compensation attorney if you have trouble getting these benefits approved or if your employer disputes the wage loss.

What Are Your Options If Your Time-Loss Benefits Compensation Is Denied?

If your time-loss compensation claim is denied, you still have options. You have the right to file a written protest with L&I within 60 days of receiving the denial. It gives you a chance to explain why the decision was incorrect and provide any missing or new documentation that supports your case.

If L&I does not reverse its decision after your protest or you prefer to bypass that step, you can file an appeal with the Washington State Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals (BIIA). The appeal must also be filed within 60 days of the denial notice. During this process, you will have the opportunity to present evidence and testimony at a hearing.

Get Over 80 Years Of Combined Legal Experience Help With Your Claim – Free Consultations Available

When your future is at stake, contact Bothwell Hamill & Sutton, PLLC. We’re committed to your case and health. Our goal is to provide ongoing support throughout your case and even after its conclusion, especially in case of benefits termination.

Don’t handle your claim alone. Call 509-606-6917 or complete this online form to set up a free consultation with our firm today.