If your work injuries are permanent, workers’ compensation in Minnesota can pay permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits and/or permanent total disability (PTD) benefits, depending on the nature of your injuries and whether you can ever expect to return to gainful employment. PTD and PPD benefits have different qualifications and payment structures, so you need to be aware of the differences if you plan to file a workers’ comp claim. A workers’ compensation attorney can answer any questions you have about disability benefits for injured workers in Minnesota.
Differences Between PTD and PPD in Minnesota
PTD and PPD benefits provide payments to workers who cannot work or whose ability to work has been permanently reduced due to disability.
Permanent Total Disability (PTD)
If your injuries result in a permanent disability that will effectively prevent you from ever working again, you may be eligible to receive PTD benefits. PTD will pay weekly benefits equal your TTD rate or 65% of the statewide average weekly wage at the time of the injury, whichever is higher. To be eligible for PTD benefits under workers’ compensation, you must be effectively unable to work, and one of the following must be true:
- You have a 17 percent PPD rating of the whole body
- You have a 15 percent PPD rating of the whole body and are at least 50 years old
- You have a 13 percent PPD rating of the whole body, are at least 55 years old, and have not completed high school or obtained your GED
You can receive PTD benefits until you turn 72 or, if the injury happened after you turned 67, for five years. If you also receive SSDI payments for your disability, workers’ compensation insurance can reduce your weekly benefit according to SSDI benefits after paying at least $25,000 in PTD benefits.
Permanent Partial Disability
If your injuries resulted in the loss or significant functional reduction of a body part or bodily system, you may be entitled to receive permanent partial disability benefits. PPD benefits are payable when your injury permanently limits your ability to work.
PPD benefits depend on PPD ratings under Minnesota Workers Compensation laws, which assign a percentage to the extent of your disability based on the specific injury. For example, the PPD rating for complete loss of vision in one eye is 24 percent, and the rating for complete loss of vision in both eyes is 85 percent. There are many, many ratings to reflect the many types of injuries that workers suffer.
PPD benefits are then calculated by multiplying the percentage rate by a specific dollar amount as found in Minnesota statutes. If you have not yet returned to work, workers’ compensation will start paying PPD benefits once you stop receiving temporary total disability (TTD) benefits 90 days after you reached maximum medical improvement (MMI).
PPD payments are made at the same intervals and amounts as TTD benefits were until the benefit amount is exhausted. You can also choose to receive the entirety of your PPD benefits in a single lump sum. If you take the lump sum, however, the insurance company can reduce benefits by a maximum of 5 percent.
Contact a Workers’ Compensation Attorney in Minnesota Today
Injured workers don’t have time to fight with insurance companies, especially when they are dealing with a potential permanent disability. The attorneys from Meshbesher Law Firm can handle your workers’ compensation case and fight to secure the benefits injured workers need to support themselves and their families.
Contact our offices online or call today for a free case consultation with a workers’ compensation attorney in Minnesota.
