Is there a waiting period for temporary disability benefits in Hawaii?

In Hawaii, temporary disability benefits do indeed have a waiting period of seven days. This means that if an employee sustains a work-related injury and is unable to work due to that injury, they will not receive temporary disability benefits for the first seven days of their disability. However, if the disability lasts longer than seven days, the benefits will be retroactively paid for those initial days following the waiting period.

This waiting period is a feature of the workers' compensation system meant to manage claims and ensure that benefits are provided to workers who are genuinely in need due to their incapacity from work-related injuries. This policy is in place to prevent the system from being misused and to ensure that benefits are directed to those who require support for a more extended period.