Permanent Partial Disability Benefit (PPD)

The permanent partial disability benefit (PPD) is the amount of money the injured employee will receive after he recovers from his work-related injury, when he receives the Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI).

The current maximum amount of weeks for each body part is set forth as follows:

• Arm   253
• Leg    215
• Hand    205
• Foot   167
• Big Toe      38
• All of the Toes   13
• Thumb    76
• Index Finger      43
• Middle Finger   38
• Ring Finger    27
• Little Finger    22
• Man as a Whole 500

Determining what percentage of disability to a specific body part an injured worker is entitled to, varies on a case-by-case basis.

The mathematical calculation for the PPD benefit is quite simple. To arrive at the work benefit:
• Multiply the person’s average weekly wage by 60% (the PPD rate), then take that number and multiply it times the percentage loss of use for each specific body part that was injured in the work injury to arrive at the PPD benefit.
• This PPD rate is calculated at 60% of the average weekly wage, with a maximum of $636.15 per week.
• Any worker having an average weekly wage of over $1,060.00 per week or $55,133.00 per year is at the maximum benefit.

Disfigurement

An injured worker is able to recover money for disfigurement resulting from a work injury, with a maximum of 150 weeks.
• The disfigurement is commonly known as scarring.
• The scarring, to be compensable, must be serious and permanent to the hands, face, head, neck, arm, leg below the knee, or chest above the axillary line.
• The disfigurement or scar benefit is calculated on a case-by-case basis and
• A settlement cannot be made until six months have passed after the original accident.

Permanent Partial Disability does not include the following:
• Past pain and suffering.
• Future pain and suffering.
• Loss of a normal life.
• Temporary aggravation of a condition.
• An injury or scar that completely disappears.
• Risk of future injury.

What is a Wage Differential Award?

The Wage Differential award is calculated by:
• Taking two-thirds of the difference between his average weekly wage and what he currently can earn in the new lower-paying job based on his injury.
• This benefit is paid weekly for life if the case goes to trial.
• If the case settles, the attorney will calculate the injured worker’s life expectancy and multiple the weekly benefits times the life expectancy of the injured worker and take that figure and multiple it by a discount rate.

You can be sure that neither the worker’s compensation adjuster nor the worker’s compensation defense attorney will tell you that you have a wage differential case. They will attempt to settle your case on a loss of use basis, in an effort to save the insurance company money.

To get more information about your injuries and benefits under the Illinois Worker’s Compensation Act, call the Giacoletto Law Firm at 618-346-8841 or toll free at 888-346-8841 to speak today with an experienced Illinois attorney centrally located in Collinsville.


 

Steve Giacoletto
Collinsville Personal Injury Attorney
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