Permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits compensate employees who are unable to work full-time due to workplace injuries. The benefits differ from permanent total disability (PTD) because PTD benefits compensate employees who cannot work in any capacity. Those eligible for permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits can work in some capacity but cannot work full-time.
If you’ve suffered a workplace injury hindering your ability to work full-time, you may qualify for permanent partial disability benefits. Here’s what you need to know about qualifying for these benefits and recovering the most workers’ compensation possible.
What is Permanent Partial Disability?
Permanent partial disability (PPD) is a type of workers’ compensation benefit that compensates workers for a permanent loss or impairment of a body part or function due to a work-related injury or illness. The compensation amount is based on the worker’s permanent partial impairment rating, often referred to as a PPI rating.
A physician will determine an injured person’s PPI rating once they reach their maximum medical improvement (MMI), the point at which a person’s medical condition has stabilized and is not expected to improve significantly with further medical treatment.
Once you reach your MMI, a physician will assess your degree of impairment. If the doctor finds that you weren’t impaired by the workplace injury, you will not be able to recover permanent partial disability benefits.
Permanent Partial Disability Settlement Amounts
Your PPI rating will determine the amount of PPD benefits you can recover. In Kentucky, physicians assign injured individuals with an impairment rating based on how the injury impacts their total bodily functions.
Victims’ impairment rating payouts are based on their pre-injury earnings multiplied by their percentage of impairment. Let’s say you’ve suffered a severe back injury, leading to a physician giving you a 25% impairment rating. First, you’ll multiply ⅔ of your weekly pre-injury earnings by .25 (25%). For example, if you earned $900 a week, you’d multiply 600 (⅔ of 900) by .25, which equals 150. Next, you’ll multiply that number by its AMA impairment factor. The factors are as follows:
- 0%-5% – .65
- 6%-10% – .85
- 11%-20% – 1.00
- 21%-25% – 1.15
- 26%-30% – 1.35
- 31%-35% – 1.50
- 36%-100% – 1.70
Going back to the previous example, the physician had assigned an impairment rating of 25%, meaning that it has an impairment factor of 1.15. You’ll take 150, the product of the previous equation, and multiply it by 1.15, equaling $172.50.
The PPD formula can appear confusing at first, so let’s dive into another example. Suppose you suffer from a severe head injury while on the job, where you made an average of $600 per week. The physician assigns you an impairment rating of 40%. You take ⅔ of your weekly earnings (totaling $400) and multiply that by your impairment percentage of .4 — 400 multiplied by .4 is $160. Next, you would multiply that product by the AMA impairment factor of 1.70 because the impairment percentage is between 36% and 100%. 160 multiplied by 1.70 equals 272, meaning your weekly partial permanent disability earnings will be roughly $272.
Factors Affecting Your PPD
Although the PPD formula can give you a rough estimation of how much you can expect to receive in disability benefits, other factors may affect your total benefits. For example, if you are older or have limited education, you may be able to increase your PPD benefits. Another factor that can substantially increase your PPD is if you’re unable to return to your pre-injury career.
If you can return to work and earn the same compensation as your pre-injury earnings or more, your benefits will be much less.
How Long Does Permanent Partial Disability Last?
The duration of your permanent partial disability benefits will depend on your impairment rating. For example, if you have an impairment rating of 51% or more, you can receive benefits for 520 weeks, but if you have a rating of 50% or less, you’ll only receive benefits for 425 weeks.
Get the Most Money Possible For Your Workplace Injury
Recovering total compensation for workplace injuries should be simple and easy, but sadly, many injured workers cannot recover the compensation they deserve. Workers’ compensation doctors frequently underestimate the extent of employees’ injuries and assign inaccurate impairment ratings, leading to low payouts.
If you’re struggling to recover the money you deserve for your workplace injuries, you’ll need a workers’ compensation attorney at your side fighting on your behalf. For expert workers’ compensation lawyers in Kentucky, contact the legal team at McCoy & Sparks Attorneys at Law. Get a free case consultation today by calling 844-459-9467, or contact us online here.