The Four Types of Permanent Partial Disability Benefits in Illinois
The United States has taken actions toward making workplaces as safe as possible for employees, but there are unavoidable accidents that still occur. Sometimes, accidents result in serious injuries that affect a person’s ability to work or to continue doing the job they were doing prior to the injury. In these cases, the employee is usually eligible for some sort of workers’ compensation benefit which can help supplement the loss of wages that they might experience. If a person loses a part of their body or loses the function of that part of the body, they usually qualify for permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits.
Commission on Workers’ Compensation
The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission is the state agency that all workers’ compensation claims go through. The Commission helps employees and employers settle cases that involve a workplace injury or illness by acting as an impartial administrative court system. The Commission awards four types of PPD benefits:
- Wage differential
- Schedule of injuries
- Non-schedule injuries
- Disfigurement
Wage Differential
This type of benefit is given to workers who get a new job due to an injury at their previous job, and their new job pays less than they were making before they were injured. The award is two-thirds of the difference between what they were making at the job when they were injured and what they are currently making at their new job. Wage differential benefits are paid for five years after the award is determined or until the person reaches age 67, whichever is later.
Schedule of Injuries
The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act sets a value for certain body parts which dictates how many weeks of PPD benefits an employee can receive. The PPD weekly rate is 60 percent of a person’s average weekly wage (AWW). To calculate the number of weeks a worker will be compensated for, they would take the percentage of loss in their body part and multiply the percentage by the value found in the table. The award amount is determined by taking the PPD weekly rate and multiplying it by the number of weeks.
Non-Schedule Injuries
Sometimes, an injury is not listed in the table, but still constitutes a significant loss for an employee. In these cases, an employee may be eligible for a percentage of 500 weeks of benefits, with the percentage being based on the loss of the person as a whole. The calculation is then similar to the calculation for listed injuries, in that the person’s PPD weekly rate is multiplied by the number of weeks of benefits which will be received.
Disfigurement
When an injury affects a worker’s head, face, neck, chest above the armpits, hands, arms, or leg below the knee, and the injury causes serious and permanent disfigurement, they may be entitled to up to 162 weeks of benefits. The number of weeks is then multiplied by 60 percent of the person’s AWW.
Seek Representation From an Aurora Workers’ Compensation Attorney
Workplace injuries can often lead to serious and life-altering injuries. When this is the case, workers’ compensation can help you continue receiving a portion of your wages, even if you are only partially disabled. If you think you are entitled to PPD benefits, you should contact a Kane County workers’ compensation lawyer to discuss your case. Kinnally Flaherty Krentz Loran Hodge & Masur P.C. can help you receive the compensation you deserve. Call our office at 630-907-0909 to set up a free consultation.
Sources:
https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/iwcc/Documents/handbook.pdf
