What Are Monetary Amounts for Permanent Partial Disability in Illinois?

If you lost a part of your body or partially lost the use of your body to the point that you cannot do your job justice, you are eligible for permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits. Before your eligibility can be determined, you have to heal completely first. Illinois personal injury lawyers will tell you that this means you have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI) and cannot heal further medically. The monetary amounts depend on the method used to determine said benefits.

How the IWCC Determines PPD Benefits

Once your MMI status is established, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC) will evaluate your case to determine your PPD benefits. Here are some of the ways it does that:

Wage Differential

If you had to switch to another job because of the physical disabilities caused by a work-based injury from a previous job and the new one pays less than the old one, you are entitled to a wage differential. In this case, you are entitled to two-thirds of the difference between your wages from your last job and the one you get in your new job.

The statewide average weekly wage (SAWW) benefit amounts can be found here. These are updated every six months and cover the minimum weekly workers’ compensation benefits for various work-based disabilities. Calculations are simple. To determine the SAWW, total salaries are divided by the number of employees in the past six months. Full and part-time employees are counted but federal, and self-employed employees are not.

Scheduled Injury

You can also collect a weekly PPD payment of 60% of your average weekly wage or salary (AAW). It covers over 25 body parts, each with a different value. All you need to do to determine permanent partial disability benefits you are entitled to by multiplying the number of weeks for the body part injured by 60% of your wage.

Important note – You cannot collect PPD benefits if you collect a wage differential.

Calculating Permanent Partial Disability Benefits

The calculation for these benefits is quite straightforward. Multiply your AWW by the aforementioned PPD rate, 60%, and take the number you get and multiply it with the value of the body part you lost or disfigured.

This does NOT include:

• Future or past pain and suffering.
• Loss of normal life.
• Slight scarring,
• Future injury risks.
• Temporary aggravation of an existing condition.

Experienced Illinois personal injury lawyers can explain the process further or, better yet, calculate your PPD benefits so you don’t have to. You may make mistakes that can prove costly.

Contact the Law Offices of Robert T. Edens for a Consultation

If your employer or the insurance company has rejected your workers’ compensation application or refuses to compensate you as per the benefits you are entitled to, you can and should sue. The Law Offices of Robert T. Edens have experienced Illinois personal injury lawyers who can ensure you get the permanent partial disability and other benefits you deserve, if not more.

We have over two decades of experience aiding employees like you recover millions of dollars in damages from unfair employers. We are not afraid to go up against big insurance organizations to do it. Whether you or someone you know has been treated unfairly or are going in the red because of expensive medical bills, we can help you recover damages. Contact us for a consultation today!