Permanent VS. Partial Disability

Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) Benefits

These benefits are issued if you have completely or partially lost the use of a specific body part or have partially lost the use of your body as a whole. Workers’ compensation does not specifically define “loss of use,” but this generally means that you are unable to do things that you were able to do before your workplace injury.

PPD benefits may be determined by the part of your body that becomes injured and the extent of your loss. Your weeks of compensation may depend on the “value” of that body part. If your injured part must be amputated or it is so wounded that you cannot use it at all, you may be paid your weekly rate for the number of weeks specified by law. The maximum compensation for PPD benefits is 60 percent of your average weekly income (or the published PPD rate, whichever is lower).

You will also be compensated if you are able to return to work but at a lower salary — wage benefits are generally determined by calculating the difference between pre-injury and post-injury wages, and calculating two-thirds of that amount.

Factors that may be considered in your benefit amount include your:

• Occupation
• Skills
• Age
• Training level
• Inability to engage in specific duties
• Pain, stiffness, and limitation of movement

Permanent Total Disability (PTD) Benefits

A permanent total disability is a complete disability that prevents you from performing any type of work that constitutes “reasonable, stable employment.”

A permanent total disability may be the loss of:

• Both hands
• Both arms
• Both eyes
• Both feet
• Both legs
• Any two such body parts

If you are an employee who has suffered a permanent and total disability resulting from a work-related injury, you are entitled to benefits for your entire lifetime. If you have been issued PTD benefits, and then return to work or get another job, you could forfeit your eligibility for PTD benefits.