Workers injured on the job are eligible for disability benefits through workers’ compensation insurance. One type of workers’ compensation benefit is permanent partial disability (PPD). This article defines PPD and explains how it plays out in personal injury cases.

Key Takeaways

• Permanent partial disability (PPD) is one type of disability defined under workers’ compensation
• Permanent partial disability is defined as permanent functional loss of use of part of the body resulting in a decreased earning capacity 
• Permanent partial disability is broken down into scheduled and non-scheduled losses and is paid according to a percentage of disability to the whole body

What Is Permanent Partial Disability?

Permanent partial disability, also called PPD, is a designation of disability level for the purposes of workers’ compensation, a form of insurance for people injured in the workplace. Workers designated as having a permanent partial disability are still able to work, but not with the efficiency and skill that they demonstrated before the injury, affecting their capacity to work and earn money. PPD represents more than half of all workers’ compensation cases. 

Benefits paid to people with permanent partial disability are determined as a percentage of disability to the whole body. That percentage rating is multiplied by a dollar amount to determine how much a person is compensated. 

Permanent partial disability is broken down into two types:

• Scheduled losses - Injuries to critical areas like the eye, dominant hand, arms, or legs

• Non-scheduled losses - Injuries to other body parts considered less severe

Permanent partial disability payments work differently depending on if the losses are scheduled or not. The exact calculations vary from state to state.

Permanent Partial Disability in Personal Injury Law

If you have suffered an injury on the job, you may be entitled to disability benefits, even if you were not injured to the point that you can no longer work. If you’re still able to continue working but your capacity and earning potential are affected by a permanent injury, you might be eligible for permanent partial disability benefits. The exact compensation you are entitled to vary based on multiple factors including the state you live in, the nature of your injury, and how much money you were earning before you were hurt.

Because there are so many factors at play in workers’ compensation cases, it can be a bit confusing to navigate the process of making a claim for your permanent partial disability benefits. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you understand what benefits you are eligible for and advocate for you to get you the best possible payout.