• If the worker is off work for 3 days or less, no compensation will be paid – it is advised to use the employees sick leave for these instances.

• If the worker is off for more than 3 days, the worker gets compensation which also covers the first 3 days.

• Temporary disability can be total or partial:

• Total means the worker is unable to work for a while. The worker will get ¾ (75%) of the normal monthly wage as compensation. 

• The formula is:

Monthly wage  Monthly wage * 75 ÷ 100, if the worker is paid monthly

Weekly wage  [(weekly wage * 4) + (weekly wage ÷ 3)] * 75 ÷ 100

• Partial means the worker can go to work, but on light duty for fewer hours. If the worker earns less doing the lighter work, he or she will get ¾ of the difference between the normal and reduced monthly wage.

• Note: The 75% is the minimum payment, an employer can pay up to 100% if he/she wishes.

• TTD is payable for the first 3 Months that the employee is booked off.

• These monies paid for the first 3 Months, the employer can claim back from the fund in terms of Section 47 of COIDA.

• After the said 3 Months, if the employee is still off duty, the Compensation Fund will take over the 75% payments. I.e from the fourth month.

• This is where it is extremely important to ensure all the correct paperwork are submitted, otherwise, your employee might sit without a salary.

• TTD is payable for the first 12 months, but if the injury or disease continues, it can be opened for payment for another 12 months.

• During this period, the Compensation Fund pays ALL medical expenses of the employee.

• Permanent disability means that a worker never fully recovers from the injury or sickness.

• The permanent disablement will be decided by a medical practitioner and submit his medical reports to the doctors.

• The Compensation Fund has a panel of its own doctors to decide the percentage of disability in terms of Schedule 2 of the Act.

• Compensation for permanent disability is paid either as a monthly pension or as a lump sum:

If the injury is measured as more than 30%, the worker gets a monthly pension.

If the injury is 30% or less, the worker gets a once-off lump sum.

• Monthly Pension formula:

 [monthly wage * (75 ÷ 100)] * (percentage disability ÷ 100)

 This amount will be paid once a month for the rest of the worker's life.

The formula for the lump sum is:

(monthly wage * 15) * (percentage disability ÷ 30)

This amount will be paid once only and there will be no further payments.

• It is important to know that pensions will only be paid out once a Final Medical Report has been completed by the treating doctor.

• The widow/er:

Lump sum payment: 2 x monthly pension of worker (the pension is the amount the worker would have been paid if he/she had been 100% disabled)

Monthly pension for life: 40% x monthly pension of worker, paid every month

• Each child under the age of 18 years (including illegitimate, adopted and step children) is entitled to:

20% x monthly pension of worker, paid every monthly until the child is 18 years old

The pension can continue for longer if the child is mentally or physically handicapped

• Other dependants, if there is no widow/er or children (parents, sisters, brothers, half-sisters, etc.):

full dependants: get the same as the widow.

The total monthly pension per family cannot be more than the pension the deceased worker would have received if he/she was 100% disabled (i.e. 75% of the monthly wage).

• All medical expenses will be paid for a maximum of two years.

• After 2 years, a claim can be re-opened where further medical treatment is needed.