How Long Is a Workers' Compensation Injury Covered in Texas?

Duration of Texas Workers' Compensation Coverage

In Texas, there is no single maximum length of time that a workers' compensation injury is covered. Unlike some states that cap benefits at a set number of weeks, Texas ties the duration to the worker's impairment rating, the type of benefits, and whether a dispute is settled through a compromise and release or a court order. This makes the timeline highly individual.

Temporary Income Benefits

Temporary Income Benefits (TIBs) replace a portion of wages while a worker is unable to work due to the injury. In Texas, TIBs can last up to 104 weeks, or roughly two years, from the date of injury. If the worker returns to work in a light-duty role that pays less, TIBs may continue to cover the difference, subject to the maximum statutory rate. The insurer can stop TIBs earlier if the doctor releases the worker to full duty or if the worker refuses suitable work.

Key conditions for TIBs

• Maximum duration: 104 weeks from the injury date.
• Requires the worker to be temporarily unable to earn their pre-injury wage.
• Can be suspended if the worker fails to follow the treatment plan or refuses a suitable job.

Impairment Income Benefits

Once medical treatment stabilizes, the worker's condition is rated for impairment. Impairment Income Benefits (IIBs) pay a percentage of the worker's average weekly wage for each rating point. In Texas, each point of impairment equals 3 weeks of benefits. A worker with a 10% rating, for example, receives 30 weeks of IIBs. This means a severe impairment can extend income benefits well beyond the 104-week TIB window, but there is no cap on the total weeks of IIBs — only the rating determines the length.

Supplemental Income Benefits and Lifetime Income

Supplemental Income Benefits (SIBs) may be payable if a worker with a rating of 15% or greater is unable to return to work or can only earn less than 80% of their pre-injury wage. SIBs are paid for up to 401 weeks. In rare cases involving a total and permanent incapacity, a worker may qualify for Lifetime Income Benefits, which continue for the remainder of the worker's life. These long-term outcomes depend heavily on the injury's nature and the settlement agreement.

Medical Coverage Timeline

Medical benefits in Texas are not time-limited in the same way income benefits are. The insurer must cover reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to the injury. However, after 104 weeks, the insurer can request an end-of-treatment review by an independent medical examiner to argue that further care is not reasonable. If the doctor agrees, medical coverage may stop. Workers can challenge this through a hearing before the Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers' Compensation.

Settlement and Dispute Impact

A Compromise and Release (C&R) settlement can shorten or end all benefits, depending on the terms. A C&R typically pays a lump sum in exchange for closing the claim, which stops future income and medical benefits unless the settlement expressly preserves them. A court-ordered settlement, by contrast, may structure ongoing payments. Disputes over the duration of coverage often hinge on whether the worker's condition is considered stabilized and whether the rating is accurate.

What Workers Should Do

Because Texas does not set a fixed coverage period, documenting the injury, following medical advice, and understanding the impairment rating process are essential to protecting benefit duration. Workers who receive a notice of closure or a reduction in benefits should consult a workers' comp attorney promptly. The timeline of coverage in Texas is built from the injury date, the doctor's findings, and the settlement path chosen, not from a single statutory cap.