If injured on the job you might consider filing a claim for workers’ compensation benefits.
Benefits can provide compensation for lost wages and health care costs when a worker sustains an injury arising out of the course of employment.
Based on the nature of the accident, the severity of an injury can vary widely, as can its permanence.
In other words, some workers will recover from an injury after medical treatment and rehabilitative therapy, while other workers will never fully recover.
Permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits are some of the most common for injured workers.
We want to provide you with additional information about PPD benefits and how they relate to workers’ compensation benefits more generally.
Understanding Different Types of Disability Benefits
Each state has its own workers’ compensation laws, and it is important to work with an attorney dedicated to this specific area of law. They have experience handling claims in your state.
Generally speaking, it is possible for workers’ compensation law in Iowa and Illinois to provide basic guidelines for understanding the different types of disability benefits that may be available.
To understand where PPD benefits fit in, it is important to understand the different types of disability benefits more broadly:
- Temporary partial disability (TPD);
- Temporary total disability (TTD);
- Permanent partial disability (PPD); and
- Permanent total disability (PTD).
PPD benefits are paid to workers who suffered an injury that is permanent but does not result in a total disability or inability to work.
However, the permanent disability may affect the worker’s ability to return to the same job he or she had before the injury occurred.
How to Determine PPD Benefits
If you are considering a workers’ compensation claim, you may be confused.
How do you determine permanent partial disability?
As we mentioned, each state has its own laws concerning eligibility for benefits.
In Illinois and Iowa, the following is general information about PPD benefits applicable generally to both state’s laws:
- Employees sustaining an injury resulting in a permanent disability that upon recovery are capable of some form of gainful employment may be eligible for benefits;
- The nature and extent of the permanent disability and the specific body part affected determine the PPD. Your medical provider and other experts determine this. Once the extent of the permanent disability has been determined, this information is applied to the injured person’s earning history. This is the amount paid weekly or reduced to a lump sum;
- PPD benefits are determined once the injured person reaches maximum medical improvement (MMI). This is the point when the injured person has reached maximum recovery and rehabilitation from the injury.; and
Contact an Experienced Workers’ Compensation Attorney
Licensed in both Illinois and Iowa, our attorneys help you with workers’ compensation claims.
Contact VanderGinst Law to learn more about how we can help with your case.
The information contained on this website is presented by VanDerGinst Law P.C. It is not intended nor should it be construed as professional legal advice. The information is general in nature about the Firm, the scope of services we offer, and our community outreach, it is not legal advice. Please contact us by phone, email, mail, or via this website for inquiries. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please contact a personal injury attorney for a consultation regarding your situation. This website is not intended to solicit clients outside the State of Iowa and/or the State of Illinois.