What Is the Difference Between Permanent and Partial Disability
If you’ve been injured on the job, you can seek workers’ compensation benefits for specific losses you experience, including a specific percentage of your wages and those related medical expenses that are considered necessary. If you suffer a disability, it will be classified as either a temporary total disability, a permanent total disability, or a permanent partial disability, and the distinction can make a serious difference in the compensation you receive. If this is the challenging situation you find yourself in, it’s time to consult with an experienced Philadelphia workers’ compensation attorney.
Temporary Total Disability
If your injuries are classified as a temporary total disability, your workers’ compensation benefits may not have a specific end date. However, if, in the course of an impairment rating evaluation (IRE), the doctor finds that you’ve reached your maximum medical improvement (MMI), your wage loss benefits may be capped at a maximum of 500 additional weeks of payments.
TTD benefits begin one week from the date that you were last able to work, and they’re calculated as a specific percentage of the average weekly wages you were earning prior to the time of your injury – with a specific cap applied.
The IRE can’t be performed until you’ve received at least 104 weeks of disability benefits, and – if you’re determined to have reached maximum improvement – an impairment rating will be assigned, which will determine what comes next. If you don’t believe you’ve reached the stage of maximum improvement or if you think your rating is too low to address your actual condition, your focused workers’ compensation attorney will skillfully challenge the findings in the protection of your rights and your rightful compensation.
Permanent Total Disability
If your condition stops you from returning to any kind of gainful employment, you may be entitled to a specific number of weekly benefits for the duration of your total disability. To qualify as a total disability, your impairment rating must be at least 35 percent. Further, you may be required to have your condition reevaluated at a later date – to determine if it can be reclassified as a permanent partial disability, which translates to less compensation overall.
Permanent Partial Disability
Permanent partial disability addresses the wage loss and medical expense benefits that apply if your condition allows you to return to work in a lower-paying or modified capacity. Your benefits will be calculated according to the difference between your current wages and the wages you were earning at the time of the injury-causing accident.
Temporary Partial Disability
Temporary partial disability addresses the wage loss and medical expense benefits that apply if your condition allows you to return to work in a lower-paying or modified capacity. Your benefits will be calculated according to the difference between your current wages and the wages you were earning at the time of the injury-causing accident.
An Experienced Philadelphia Workers’ Compensation Attorney Can Help
The persuasive Philadelphia workers’ compensation attorneys at HGSK Injury Lawyers have an impressive track record of helping clients like you obtain fair workers’ compensation benefits that accurately reflect their losses and support their overall health, well-being, and recovery. Our compassionate legal team is committed to fiercely advocating for your claim’s optimal outcome, so please don’t put off reaching out and contacting us online or calling us at 267-350-6600 to schedule a free consultation and learn more about what we can do to help you today.