Recently, I had a client who inquired about permanent partial disability. They were curious about what it was and whether not they would qualify for it. I thought I’d pass along that information, as it might be relevant to you as well and others who are unfamiliar with permanent partial disability.
Essentially, permanent partial disability is used to compensate for permanent physical damage sustained during a work injury. Here, “partial” refers to the fact that you still have some use of the injured body part. In other words, you still have some functionality, but the benefits cover the injuries that have prevented your body from returning to the functionality it once had.
A doctor will determine the amount of disability using a scale of 0 percent to 100 percent. 0 percent means that there is no permanent injury at all. 100 percent would mean you have a permanent and total disability. Injuries that range from 1 percent to 99 percent are eligible for benefits.
You are eligible for permanent partial disability regardless of whether or not your injury prevents you from performing your old job. The reasoning is this: With permanent partial disability, you are being compensated for your loss of ability in your injured body part rather than for your ability to work.
Compensation is calculated at 2/3 of your regular weekly salary, based on your last 12 months of employment with your current employer. However, it’s worth noting that compensation is capped at $816 per week.
