Are you concerned about your finances after a work injury that left you permanently disabled? If your doctor says you’ve hit maximum medical improvement, but you’re still dealing with pain or work limitations, you might qualify for permanent disability benefits. An Iowa workers’ compensation attorney can help you understand these benefits and claim the support you are due.
What Is Permanent Partial Disability in Iowa Workers’ Compensation?
Permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits are available to qualifying workers in Iowa who have permanent impairments as a result of their injuries but who can still work. PPD benefits don’t replace other benefits. Instead, they are awarded in addition to healing period or temporary partial disability payments. A worker might qualify for PPD if their doctor finds they have a permanent change in their working ability and won’t recover further.
When Do PPD Benefits Begin?
PPD benefits start when a doctor decides the injured worker has healed as much as possible. This point is called “maximum medical improvement” (MMI). Doctors use official medical guidelines from the American Medical Association to figure out how much damage an injury has caused. They issue a rating that helps decide the amount and duration of PPD benefits. Workers don’t need to wait for other benefits to end before PPD starts, but they must reach MMI first. PPD is only available if a worker’s injury causes permanent loss or restriction or limits their ability to earn income like before.
How PPD Benefits Are Calculated
PPD benefits depend on a few key factors. The first is which body part the injury affected. The second is how much the injury changed how that body part works. A doctor gives the injury a percentage rating using medical guidelines. Then, that rating is applied to a set number of weeks, depending on the body part. Finally, the number of weeks assigned to the injury is multiplied by the worker’s weekly benefit rate to calculate the total amount of PPD benefits they receive.
If the injury affects the whole body, not just one part, the law looks at how the injury impacts the worker’s future ability to earn money. In those cases, the percentage rating and other personal factors determine the benefit amount.
What Is Permanent Total Disability in Iowa Workers’ Compensation?
Permanent total disability (PTD) benefits are available to people who cannot return to any wage-earning job because of a work-related injury. If you are no longer able to perform the job you had before your injury or any work that would pay you wages, you could qualify for PTD benefits. In Iowa, PTD benefits last as long as you stay permanently and totally disabled. These payments replace a portion of your lost income if a serious injury keeps you from working.
When Can You Get PTD Benefits in Iowa?
You could get PTD benefits in Iowa if a work injury stops you from returning to any job that pays wages. It is not enough to show that you cannot do your old job. You must show that you are permanently and totally disabled, meaning you cannot and will not be able to perform any kind of work that someone would pay you to do. If you recover enough to work again, your PTD benefits will stop. You cannot get PTD benefits if you are also receiving unemployment benefits or if you earn more than half of the statewide average weekly wage from another job or service.
How PTD Benefits Are Calculated
PTD benefits in Iowa are based on your “spendable earnings,” which is the (pre-injury) average amount you took home after payroll taxes. Generally, you get 80 percent of that amount each week in PTD benefits. As of July 1, 2024, the maximum weekly benefit for PTD is $2,274.
You cannot get more than 200 percent of the statewide average weekly wage in PTD benefits. If you start earning wages from a job or receive unemployment benefits, your PTD payments could stop or decrease. Also, if you already received payment for another type of workers’ compensation benefit related to the same injury, that amount will be deducted from your PTD total.
How an Iowa Workers’ Compensation Attorney Can Maximize Your PPD Benefits
Filing a PPD claim can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re also dealing with a painful recovery and the stress of missing work. An Iowa workers’ compensation lawyer can handle the claims process on your behalf and work to maximize your benefits by:
- Gathering medical evidence to show the full extent of your injury
- Asking the doctor the right questions to get an accurate impairment rating
- Arguing for a higher rating or longer benefit period when supported by evidence
- Preparing paperwork and filing forms with the right agencies
- Speaking with the insurance company so you don’t have to
- Appealing a denial if the insurer rejects your claim
- Pushing for a fair settlement that takes your injury and job future into account
Contact a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Iowa
If you have questions about permanent disability benefits or think your Iowa workers’ compensation claim isn’t going as it should, you can get answers. Loney & Schueller, LLC, has more than 50 years of combined experience helping injured workers across Iowa understand their rights and fight for the benefits they deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation with our attentive team.
