Workers’ Comp: Permanent Partial Vs. Permanent Total Disability

 Posted on January 02, 2018 in Workers' Compensation

If you have been injured on the job, you may be eligible for workers compensation benefits, especially if you are no longer able to go back to work due to the nature of your injury. If severely injured, you may qualify for permanent disability benefits. Even though there are two different types of permanent disability benefits, there is a major difference between permanent partial disability (PPD) and permanent total disability (PTD), and it is important to understand the distinction between the two types.

Permanent Partial Disability

In order to receive permanent partial disability benefits, an injured individual may still earn income from their job, but they are partially impaired from a permanent injury. Permanent partial disability can include the following injuries:

• Disfigurement of any body parts
• Injuries to the hands or fingers 
• Injuries to the toes or feet
• Amputation above the elbow or knee
• Amputation at the hip joint
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Hearing loss

Individuals who are eligible for PPD will typically receive benefits based on the body part that was injured and the percentage of impairment to that body part. Depending on the body part, they will be eligible to receive a certain number of weeks of pay, and they will receive 60% of their average weekly wage for that number of weeks.

If an individual is only able to obtain a lower-paying job because of their injury, they may be eligible to receive a wage differential benefit. This benefit is two thirds (66.67%) of the difference between the amount they earn in their new job and the amount they would have been earning if they had not been injured.

Permanent Total Disability

An injured individual is eligible for permanent total disability if they are no longer able to receive income by performing the same type of work as before the injury occurred. To receive permanent total disability, the person affected must submit a report signed by a physician to their employer’s insurer. The insurer’s claims department will then review the information and will make a decision about whether the employee is eligible for permanent total disability. 

In Illinois, an individual who is eligible for permanent total disability will receive two thirds (66.67%) of their average weekly wage at the time of the injury, and they can receive this benefit for the rest of their life. They are also entitled to receive cost of living adjustments which reflect the average statewide increase in wages each year.

Call an Aurora, IL Workers’ Compensation Attorney

Being injured on the job can have a major impact on your quality of life and your ability to provide for your family. At Kinnally Flaherty Krentz Loran Hodge & Masur P.C., we can help you understand your eligibility for workers’ compensation disability benefits and work to ensure that you receive the benefits you need. Our seasoned attorneys have over 39 years of experience representing clients in workers’ compensation and personal injury cases, and we are ready to help you achieve the best results possible. For a free initial consultation, please call a Kane County workers’ compensation lawyer at 630-907-0909. 

Sources:

https://www.thebalance.com/types-of-workers-compensation-benefits-4047799

https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/iwcc/Documents/ppdschedule.pdf