| Permanent Partial Disability benefits can occur as a | | | | Typically PPD is determined following an Independent |
| result of workplace injuries. A permanent partial | | | | Medical Examination ("IME"), which is usually performed |
| disability is when an injury is rated in medical | | | | after a course of medical treatment. The IME is used |
| examination to the severity of being permanent but the | | | | to rate the injured worker's disability. The employer's |
| employee is still able to work. In this case under | | | | workers' compensation insurer or the state agency |
| workers' compensation laws, the employee is entitled | | | | that administers workers' compensation claims pays |
| to receive permanent partial disability ("PPD") payment | | | | for the IME. |
| benefits. | | | | The examining doctor or health care provider uses a |
| The amount paid for PPD is determined by the | | | | percentage to estimate the extent the injury affects |
| worker's diminished earning capacity over the course | | | | the employee's ability to work. An employee can be |
| of their lifetime as a result of their injury. While the | | | | eligible for PPD with a disability rating between one and |
| employee is still able to work, he or she can no longer | | | | ninety-nine percent. However, most PPD ratings are |
| work in their prior capacity and have to seek | | | | between five and thirty percent. The type of work |
| employment in an occupation that does not pay as | | | | employee's perform is a factor in the disability rating. If |
| much as their job at the time of the workplace incident | | | | the injured worker does not agree with the disability |
| that caused the injury. | | | | rating, he or she may be entitled to a second opinion |
| The reduction in pay can be hundreds of thousands of | | | | for an additional disability rating. |
| dollars over the course of years an individual typically | | | | Once a disability rating has been established for the |
| works. For example, if a longshoreman earning | | | | injured worker, he or she is entitled to receive PPD |
| $70,000 per year were to suffer a back injury on the | | | | benefit payments on a regular basis commencing |
| job, they could have to seek non-physical work that | | | | promptly. The PPD benefit payments must begin |
| would pay tends of thousands a dollars a year less as | | | | promptly to the employee or the employer can face |
| a result of their injury. | | | | significant financial penalties. |