Temporary total disability benefits duration moderating: NCCI

While the average duration of temporary total disability indemnity benefits shot up at the onset of the Great Recession, the trend may have moderated slightly in 2010, NCCI Holdings Inc. reported Thursday.

“Countrywide, our estimate of ultimate mean duration of TTD indemnity benefits has risen from about 123 days for injuries that occurred in 2006 to a forecasted high of 143 days for injuries that occurred in 2009, moderating slightly to 141 days in 2010,” the Boca Raton, Fla., rating and statistical organization said in its newest research brief on benefit duration.

“The national unemployment rate deteriorated nationally from 4.6% in December 2007 to 9.3% in December 2009, and rising further to 9.6% in December 2010,” NCCI said.

NCCI said it reviewed 1.3 million claims for its latest study, which confirms prior findings that average duration of payments for indemnity benefits has been increasing since the onset of the recession in late 2007.