Not a finding that someone is permanently unable to work, and not the same as being completely off the job. It means an injury or illness has caused a temporary loss of earning capacity, but the person can still do some work or return to work with limits. In practice, that often means reduced hours, lighter duties, or a lower-paying position during recovery. The condition is expected to improve, which is what makes it temporary; the worker is only partly restricted, which is what makes it partial.

This matters because wage-loss benefits often depend on the gap between what the worker earned before the injury and what the worker can earn while recovering. Medical records, work restrictions, and employer job offers can all affect whether a claim is treated as temporary partial disability rather than temporary total disability or permanent partial disability. Disputes often center on whether suitable light-duty work was available and whether the worker's reduced earnings were truly caused by the injury.

In Maine, these issues are handled under the Maine Workers' Compensation Act, Title 39-A, and disputes may go before the Maine Workers' Compensation Board. Classification affects the amount and duration of workers' compensation benefits, and it can also shape related questions about maximum medical improvement, return-to-work plans, and whether the insurer can reduce or stop payments.