Permanent Partial Disability Benefits (PPD) Under The Illinois Workers Compensation System.
Permanent Partial Disability Benefits are workers compensation benefits for an injured employee who sustains some permanent disability, disfigurement or physical loss, but can still do some work. Also referred to as a partial permanent disability or lump sum settlement, this workers compensation benefit is intended to compensate employees for a partial loss of use of a body part.
Permanent partial disability means:
- The complete or partial loss of a part of the body
- The complete or partial loss of use of a part of the body, or
- The partial loss of use of the body as a whole
“Loss of use” generally means the injured employee is unable to do things she or he was able to do prior to the injury. Permanent partial disability benefits usually cannot be determined until the employee has reached maximum medical improvement.
Types of Permanent Partial Disability Benefits
Permanent partial disability benefits include the following four types of workers comp benefits:
- Wage differential benefits
- Schedule injuries
- Non-schedule injuries
- Disfigurement benefits
Wage differential benefits are intended to compensate employees whose injury has resulted in a lower paying job. Wage differential is calculated based on 2/3 of the difference between the amount the employee earns in his or her new job and the amount he or she would be earning in his or her prior employment. For work related injuries that occurred on or after September 1, 2011, wage differential benefits are paid for five years from the date of the workers compensation award or until the employee turns age 67, whichever is later. For job related injuries prior to September 1, 2011, benefits are paid for the life of the injured employee.
Schedule injury benefits are based on the value of injuries to certain body parts as expressed as a number of weeks of compensation for each body part, multiplied by 60% of the injured workers average weekly wage. If an injured body part is amputated or cannot be used in any way, an award would be calculated using the entire number of weeks for the body part on the schedule; if the loss sustained is only partial, the award would be calculated based on a percentage of the number of weeks for the body part on the schedule.
Schedule injuries can include, for example, injuries to the following body parts:
- Thumb
- Index finger; middle finger; ring finger; or little (pinkie) finger
- Big toe; other toes
- Hand
- Carpal tunnel due to repetitive trauma
- Arm
- Amputation above elbow; amputation at shoulder joint
- Foot
- Leg
- Amputation above knee; amputation at hip joint
- Eye; enucleation of eye
- Hearing loss of one ear; hearing loss of both ears
- One testicle; both testicles
If the employee’s injury is not listed on the schedule of injuries, but it imposes certain limitations, the worker may be entitled to a percentage of 500 weeks of disability benefits, based on the loss of the person as a whole. The number of weeks is then multiplied by 60% of the employee’s average weekly wage.
If an employee suffers serious and permanent disfigurement to the head, face, neck, chest, above armpits, arm, hand, or leg below the knee, the injured employee may be entitled to 162 weeks of benefits at the permanent partial disability rate, multiplied by 60% of the employee’s average weekly wage.
If you have suffered a complete or partial loss of a body part or loss of use of a body part or your body as a whole in an accident at work in Illinois, a workers compensation lawyer or work injury attorney may be able to help you recover permanent partial disability benefits.
If You Or A Loved One Were Injured At Work, You May Be Entitled To Permanent Partial Disability Benefits From Your Employer. Contact A Workers Compensation Lawyer.
Fill Out The Form On The Right To Request A Free Review By A Workers’ Comp Attorney.