What Is Permanent Partial Disability (PPD)?
Permanent Partial Disability is the workers' comp benefit paid when your injury leaves you with lasting impairment after you've healed as much as medicine can get you. PPD does not require total loss of function. A 20% permanent limitation to your shoulder, a fusion that limits your spine movement, a finger amputation - these all produce PPD awards if they meet your state's threshold.
At stabilization, the required evaluator assesses lasting impairment or disability. The award method, rating adjustments, and weekly rate depend on the jurisdiction. Do not assume the PPD rate equals the TTD rate or that all claims use fixed scheduled weeks.
Most states use the American Medical Association (AMA) Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment to assign ratings, but a growing number of states (California, New York, Florida, Illinois) use their own modified rating systems. The difference matters - California's PDRS produces higher ratings than the AMA Guides for many injuries.
How PPD Is Calculated - Scheduled vs. Unscheduled Awards
Scheduled Body Parts
This model uses common reference weeks such as 312 for an arm, 288 for a leg, 244 for a hand, and 160 for an eye. Those figures match federal FECA scheduled members; state schedules can differ. The modeled formula is:
- Weeks of benefit = (Body part scheduled weeks) × (Impairment rating %)
- Total PPD award = Weeks × Weekly benefit rate
Unscheduled (Whole-Person) Injuries
Non-scheduled injuries may use whole-person ratings, earning-capacity rules, or other formulas. A whole-person percentage is not interchangeable with a body-part percentage. The calculator’s 500 reference weeks are an assumption rather than a universal legal schedule.
Use the rating basis and award method required by the governing system. Choosing a different category simply because its reference weeks are larger can distort the estimate.
How Impairment Ratings Are Assigned
At MMI, your treating physician performs an impairment evaluation. They use standardized criteria to measure loss of range of motion, sensory deficits, loss of strength, and functional limitations. The result is a percentage applied to the whole body or the specific body part.
Compare the evidence: Examiners can disagree. Check the required guideline, accepted conditions, objective findings, rating basis, and calculation. This page does not establish a statistical reduction in IME ratings or a universal rule favoring one examiner.
If the insurance company's IME produces a rating you believe is too low, an attorney can request a second opinion or contest the IME through a formal hearing. This is one of the highest-value interventions a workers' comp attorney provides.
PPD by Body Part - 2026 Reference
Calculator reference assumptions for comparison—not verified statutory schedules for all states:
| Body Part | Scheduled Weeks |
|---|---|
| Arm | 312 |
| Leg | 288 |
| Hand | 244 |
| Foot | 205 |
| Eye | 160 |
| Thumb | 75 |
| Index finger | 46 |
| Back / Spine | 312 (scheduled) or 500+ (whole person) |
| Hearing, both ears | 200 |
A 25% impairment to the leg (288 weeks) produces 72 weeks of PPD benefits. At $700/week, that is $50,400 before any settlement discount.
PPD vs. Settlement
A permanent award and a negotiated settlement are different. Payment structures and approval rules vary. A settlement may resolve disputed benefits or medical rights and account for prior payments; do not assume every agreement discounts a full award or closes all treatment.
A lawyer can review disputed impairment ratings and explain which benefits a settlement closes. The Settlement Calculator illustrates claim components without assuming an increase from legal representation.
How much does a 5%, 10%, or 15% PPD rating pay?
Chosen examples at $700 per week with a 312-week arm reference. Ratings are illustrative inputs, not typical results for a procedure.
| Arm rating | Modeled weeks | Reference amount |
|---|---|---|
| 5% | 15.6 | $10,920 |
| 10% | 31.2 | $21,840 |
| 15% | 46.8 | $32,760 |
| 20% | 62.4 | $43,680 |
Impairment rating payout by state
Your state's wage-replacement percentage and weekly cap decide what a rating is actually worth. Compare impairment rating payouts by state.
Verify the schedule and rating before comparing payouts
The FECA statute sets federal scheduled weeks. New York’s permanent disability guidance distinguishes scheduled and non-scheduled awards. Neither establishes every state’s formula.
Federal claim? Use the OWCP schedule award calculator. Still out of work? Compare the TTD wage-benefit estimate. For a full-claim scenario, keep impairment separate from medical and other components in the settlement estimator.
Workers' Comp Calculators by State
Pick your state for benefit caps, weekly rate, and a state-specific calculator.
Related calculators and guides
Keep going with the tool that matches your stage of the claim.
Weekly benefit, PPD, and settlement in one place.
What your weekly temporary disability check should be.
Light-duty benefit when you earn less while healing.
Federal employee FECA award by body part.
Lump-sum value of your full claim.
Turn a 5%, 10%, or 20% rating into dollars.
Travel reimbursement for medical appointments.
Max and min weekly rates for all 50 states.
Typical settlement ranges by injury and state.
Average settlement for fusion, rotator cuff, knee replacement, and more.
Why comp does not pay it, and when a third-party claim does.
When carriers typically make an offer.
What coverage costs by class code and payroll.
Guides, state updates, and claim strategy.
Herniated discs, fusions, and lumbar strains.
Lumbar disc herniation and fusion values.
Rotator cuff, labrum, and replacements.
Meniscus tears, ACL, and knee replacement.
Amputations, crush injuries, and nerve damage.
Carpal tunnel, fractures, ligament tears, and fusion.
Concussion and traumatic brain injury claims.
PPD FAQ
How is a permanent partial disability rating determined?+
A permanent partial disability rating is assigned by a physician at Maximum Medical Improvement using standardized evaluation criteria, most often the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment. The physician measures range of motion, strength, sensory deficits, and functional limitations. The result is a percentage applied to the affected body part or the whole person. In California, New York, and several other states, modified rating systems are used that may produce higher or lower percentages than the AMA Guides for the same injury.
What is the difference between a scheduled and unscheduled PPD award?+
Scheduled awards use the body parts and periods set by the governing law. Non-scheduled claims can use different disability or wage-loss methods. This calculator models both with common reference weeks, but a 500-week whole-person assumption is not a universal state rule.
When do PPD benefits begin?+
Permanent benefits depend on the required medical assessment and state entitlement rules. MMI describes stabilization for assessment, but it does not automatically mean a permanent award begins the next day. Verify payment timing and whether other benefits overlap or are credited.
How much is a 10% whole-person impairment worth?+
Using this site’s chosen 500-week whole-person reference, a 10% rating gives 50 modeled weeks. At a $700 weekly rate the illustration is $35,000. It is not an observed average or a state-law award: some systems do not use this formula at all.
Can I return to work and still receive PPD benefits?+
Yes. PPD benefits compensate for permanent impairment, not for being out of work. You can return to your pre-injury job, a modified job, or a new job and still receive your PPD award. PPD is paid separately from wage-replacement benefits. The only situation where returning to work affects PPD is if your state calculates PPD based on wage loss rather than impairment rating - a few states (like Florida and New York) use a wage-loss model for some PPD claims.
What happens if the insurance company and I disagree on the impairment rating?+
Compare the reports’ accepted conditions, measurements, rating basis, and required guidelines. Review or hearing procedures and deadlines vary by system. A licensed lawyer can explain available options and costs; a challenge does not guarantee a higher award.