After your work injury has healed, you’ll be assigned a permanent partial disability (PPD) rating in workers’ comp.
This rating is part of the formula the insurance company will use to determine the value of your PPD benefit.
If you believe your rating is unfair or you have questions about how the insurer calculated your PPD benefit, call Underwood Law LLC today. You’ll get a free consultation with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer who can review your situation and explain your options.
What Is a Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) Rating?
In Georgia workers’ compensation claims, a permanent partial disability rating is a percentage assigned that reflects a permanent loss of function in a specific part of the body or the body as a whole. This rating is used to calculate the PPD benefits owed to the injured worker.
When Are PPD Benefits Payable in Georgia?
In a Georgia workers’ compensation case, permanent partial disability benefits can be paid after an injured worker’s treatment is complete and they are as healed as much as possible.
You can receive your PPD benefits weekly for the number of weeks allowed by your impairment rating.
Alternatively, you can get them in a lump sum as part of a settlement at the end of a workers’ compensation claim.
How Georgia Assigns Impairment Ratings After Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI)
Before an impairment rating can be assigned, the injured worker must reach maximum medical improvement (MMI). It is the point at which additional treatment will not improve the injured worker’s condition.
Once MMI is achieved, an authorized treating physician can assign an impairment rating.
The physician will use the American Medical Association’s Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment. The impairment rating is intended as an indicator of the extent of permanent impairment the injured worker suffered because of the work injury.
How Georgia’s PPD Calculation Formula Works
Georgia’s PPD calculation works like this: Impairment Rating % x Body Part Weeks x 2/3 of the Average Weekly Wage (AWW).
The worker’s AWW is based on an average of the wages the worker earned in the 13 weeks prior to the injury. Bonuses, tips, and additional compensation, such as regular per diem allowances, can be included in the AWW, but overtime is not unless it is earned on a consistent basis.
Here’s an example of how the PPD formula works: Imagine the injured worker is a jackhammer operator who suffered carpal tunnel syndrome in the right hand. The worker had surgery, and the condition improved.
Also, imagine that the worker earns $960 per week. The doctor provided an impairment rating of 20 percent loss of use of the hand. Georgia allows 160 weeks for a complete loss of use of a hand.
The calculations are as follows:
Impairment rating of 20 percent x 160 weeks for a hand = 32 weeks.
AWW of $960.00 x 2/3 = $640
32 weeks x $640.00 = $20,480
The injured worker’s PPD benefit for the 20 percent impairment of the hand is $20,480.
Georgia PPD Compensation Schedule (Weeks by Body Part)
The Georgia Workers’ Compensation statute includes a listing of body parts and the number of weeks that represents a complete loss of use of that part of the body. This listing can be found in O.C.G.A. § 34-9-263.
The following is a partial reproduction of that list:
- Arm – 225 weeks
- Leg – 225 weeks
- Hand – 160 weeks
- Foot – 135 weeks
- Thumb – 60 weeks
- Index finger – 40 weeks
- Great toe – 30 weeks
- Other toe – 20 weeks
- Hearing loss (one ear) – 75 weeks
- Vision loss (one eye) – 150 weeks
What to Do If You Disagree with Your PPD Rating
Your PPD rating is not necessarily set in stone. You may have several options for changing it, including the following:
- Communicate with Your Physician About Your Rating – You can ask to verify that all relevant factors were considered when the doctor assigned the rating.
- Request a Second Opinion – You can request an independent medical evaluation to get another assessment.
- Request a Hearing – If you still disagree with your rating, you can request a hearing before the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation, where you can present evidence and argue your position.
- Hire a Lawyer – An experienced workers’ compensation lawyer can handle all these steps for you and will have the knowledge and skills to secure the best impairment rating possible in your circumstances.
FAQs About Calculating PPD Ratings in Georgia Workers’ Comp Claims
Injured workers usually have questions about their PPD benefits. The following are some of the questions we often hear for your information.
What if I disagree with the AWW I’ve been assigned?
If you disagree with the workers’ compensation insurer’s calculations of your AWW, gather copies of your pay stubs and any other documentation related to the wages you earned in the 13 weeks before your injury.
You can calculate your average yourself and bring the supporting documentation to the insurer to argue your point. You can request a hearing before the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation to have them determine your AWW. Finally, you can hire a lawyer to handle this dispute for you.
What if I disagree with my doctor’s impairment rating and the impairment rating my second opinion doctor provided?
It is unlikely that the Workers’ Compensation Board will change your impairment rating without a physician’s assessment that is at least in the neighborhood of the rating you want.
However, the impairment rating is not the final word. You can request a hearing before the Workers’ Compensation Board. They have the authority to determine the impairment rating.
Need Help with Your PPD Rating? Talk to a Georgia Workers’ Compensation Attorney
When you’ve been injured on the job, you shouldn’t try to handle your case on your own.
You need an experienced Georgia workers’ compensation attorney from Underwood Law. When you call our office, you’ll get a free consultation with someone who helps injured people get the benefits and compensation they need every day.
We’re committed to prompt communication, and we’ll answer your calls the same day if possible, or within 24 hours. We have recovered millions of dollars in benefits and compensation for past clients, and we’ll put those skills to work for you. As one satisfied client said:
“I would like to thank Mr. Underwood for the great job he did for me. If you ever need help he’s your man to call!”
– N.P.
If you need help with your workers’ comp claim or your PPD rating, call today for a free initial consultation.
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