Workers Compensation - Disability Ratings

If you are injured at work and those injuries cause you to suffer limitations in your ability to work, you may be entitled to compensation.

Temporary Total Disability (TTD)

This means that for a period of time, your injuries are such that you are not able to work at all. During this time,  you are entitled to receive two-thirds of your normal wages until you are able to return to work. In some instances, your employer may try and have you come back to work if they can give you work that fits within the physical restrictions set forth by your doctor, which is then considered temporary partial disability.

Temporary Partial Disability (TPD)

If your work-related injuries still make it possible for you to return to work with limitations, you do not receive any compensation, but continue to go to work and earn money.

Permanent Partial Disability (PPD)

In some instances, you may suffer from an injury from which you will not recover completely. In this instance, you are entitled to see a doctor and have your disability rated. The rating will depend upon a comparison of your injuries against guidelines for disability ratings set forth by the American Medical Association. These ratings are ultimately made in terms of a percentage of whole body impairment, for example, 10 percent whole body impairment for a permanent low back injury.

Once the percentage of impairment is determined, the insurer uses three factors, age, wage and disability percentage, in computing your PPD award. These calculations will be provided to you and you can review them, and even dispute them if the amount is incorrectly calculated.