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Permanent Partial Disability

A workers' compensation benefit paid when an employee suffers a lasting injury that permanently reduces their ability to work, but doesn't completely prevent them from working. The disability is considered permanent because it won't improve with medical treatment, and partial because the person can still perform some work functions.

Example

“After losing two fingers in a factory accident, Maria received permanent partial disability benefits because she could still work but had reduced manual dexterity.”

Memory Tip

Think 'PPD = Permanently Pretty Damaged' - the person is damaged permanently but can still function partially.

Why It Matters

This benefit provides crucial financial support for workers who suffer lasting injuries that reduce their earning capacity but don't completely disable them. It helps bridge the gap between full health and total disability, ensuring injured workers receive compensation proportional to their loss of function.

Common Misconception

Many people think permanent partial disability means you can never work again, but it actually means you have a lasting impairment that reduces your work capacity. The benefits are typically calculated based on the percentage of impairment, not complete work inability.

In Practice

A construction worker who loses 40% function in his right hand might receive a permanent partial disability rating of 25% for the whole person. If the state's maximum weekly benefit is $800, he would receive $200 per week (25% of $800) for a predetermined number of weeks, often 500-700 weeks depending on state law. This provides ongoing compensation for his reduced earning capacity while he continues working in a modified role.

Etymology

From Latin 'permanens' meaning lasting, 'partialis' meaning incomplete, and 'disabilitas' meaning lack of ability, first used together in workers' compensation law in the early 20th century.

Common Misspellings

permanant partial disabilitypermanent paritial disabilitypermanent partial disabiltypermanet partial disability

Related Terms

Permanent Total Disability

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