Lost Income Benefits Guide for Injured Workers

When your doctor gives you an impairment rating you’re entitled to start drawing permanent partial disability benefits. This is a weekly check that is meant to compensate you for the permanent damage that was done your body because of the workplace accident. The amount of weekly checks you will receive depends on the rating given to you by your doctor.

What are Permanent Partial Disability Benefits?

Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) benefits are a form of workers’ compensation available to employees who have suffered a work-related injury or illness that has resulted in a permanent impairment, but who are still able to work in some capacity. PPD benefits are designed to compensate injured workers for the loss of earning capacity resulting from their injury or illness.

Eligibility Criteria for PPD Benefits

To be eligible for PPD benefits in Georgia, an employee must meet the following criteria:

• The employee must have a work-related injury or illness.
• The injury or illness must result in a permanent impairment.
• The employee must have a disability rating assigned by a physician, based on the American Medical Association’s (AMA) Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment.
• The employee must be able to work in some capacity, even if at a reduced level.

How Is The Impairment Rating Calculated

The impairment rating is supposed to be determined based on the American Medical Association’s guidelines with evaluation of permanent impairment, fifth edition. But this is still a subjective process. Often there are a range of possible ratings that your doctor can give you. Some doctors only give impairment ratings on the lower end of the range, because they know it will save money for the insurance company.

Impairment ratings are assigned by authorized physicians based on the American Medical Association’s (AMA) Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment. These ratings help determine the severity of an injury and its impact on the injured worker’s ability to function.

Shoulder Injury Examples

Shoulder injuries are common in workers’ compensation claims. Examples of shoulder injuries and potential impairment ratings include:

• Rotator cuff tear with conservative treatment - 5% to 12% upper extremity impairment
• Rotator cuff tear with surgery - 10% to 20% upper extremity impairment

Please note that these are general examples and actual impairment ratings may vary based on individual circumstances and the specific details of the injury. Generally, the more severe the injury and the greater the impact on the injured worker’s daily life and ability to work, the higher the impairment rating will be.

What is the rating worth?

Determining the exact dollar amount of the rating depends on the body part the rating is assigned to and your average pre-injury income.

The rating is worth a certain number of weeks of benefits. The number of weeks assigned to each body part is set by the Georgia Workers’ Compensation statute. For example, the arm is assigned 225 weeks, the leg is assigned 225 weeks, and the back is assigned 300 weeks. The video at the top of this page contains a chart showing the number of weeks assigned to each body part.

If you multiply the number of weeks assigned to the body part by your impairment rating, you will get the number of weeks of benefits you are entitled to receive.

For example, if you have a 15% impairment rating to the arm, you would multiply 15% by 225 weeks, which equals 33.75 weeks of benefits. If your average weekly wage is $500, your weekly benefit amount would be two-thirds of that, or $333.33. So, in this example, you would receive $333.33 per week for 33.75 weeks.

Back Injury Examples

Mike herniated his disc at work while lifting a box. If Mike has a 15% impairment rating to the “whole person”, he will receive 15% of the number of weeks assigned to the body part that was injured. The “Whole Body” is assigned 300 weeks. So, Mike will receive 15% of 300 weeks, which is 45 weeks of PPD payments. The payments will be mailed to him weekly.

Dollar amount of the weekly payments

The amount of the weekly checks are based on your “compensation rate”, which will vary from case to case. The compensation rate for PPD benefits is calculated based on the injured worker’s average weekly wage (AWW) at the time of the injury. The AWW is typically calculated using the average earnings over 13 weeks prior to the injury. The compensation rate for the weekly checks is two-thirds of the AWW, subject to a maximum and minimum limit set by Georgia workers’ compensation laws.

At the time this guide was written (March 2025), the maximum weekly compensation rate is $800 and the cap applies to injuries that occured after July 1, 2023. Injuries prior to July 1,2023, will have a lower max compensation rate. The maximum compensation rate is set by state law and is subject to change.

Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE)

A Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) is a comprehensive assessment used to determine an individual’s physical abilities and limitations, particularly in the context of work-related injuries. FCEs are often conducted by physical therapists or occupational therapists and involve a series of tests and measurements to evaluate the injured worker’s strength, endurance, flexibility, and overall functional capacity.

FCEs are typically used to:

• Assess the injured worker’s ability to perform specific job tasks or physical activities
• Determine the extent of the injury and its impact on the worker’s daily life
• Assist in developing a rehabilitation plan or return-to-work program
• Provide objective data for disability ratings and workers’ compensation claims

The functional capacity evaluation may also include the impariment rating, which is a percentage that represents the degree of permanent impairment resulting from the injury. This rating is used to determine the appropriate level of PPD benefits for the injured worker.

Your authorized treating physician is the one who will ultimately determine your impairment rating.
If you are unhappy with the rating you are given, you do have a right to challenge the impairment rating by filing a hearing request with the State Board of Worker’s Compensation.

When are PPD Benefits Paid?

PPD benefits are typically paid on a weekly basis, starting after the injured worker has reached maximum medical improvement (MMI) and has received their impairment rating from the authorized physician. The first PPD benefit payment is usually made within 21 days of the insurance carrier receiving the physician’s report with the impairment rating.

How long you receive PPD benefits depends on the severity of your injury and the number of weeks assigned to the specific body part in the Georgia workers’ compensation statute. PPD benefits are paid until the injured worker has received the full amount of benefits they are entitled to, based on their disability rating and the number of weeks assigned to the specific body part.

You cannot receive PPD benefits while you are receiving Temporary Total Disability (TTD) or Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) benefits. PPD benefits will start after your temporary benefits have ended.

Statute of Limitations

There is a time limit to receive PPD payments. PPD benefits must be filed within four years from the date the last payment of income benefits, such as Temporary Total Disability (TTD) or Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) benefits, was actually made. This means that if you have not received any income benefits for four years, you may lose your right to receive PPD benefits.

Tips About the Impairment Rating

Understanding Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) benefits under Georgia workers’ compensation laws is crucial for employees who have suffered a work-related injury or illnesss. By knowing the eligibility criteria, the claims process, and your rights, you can better navigate the system and ensure that you receive the benefits you are entitled to. If you have any concerns or questions, don’t hesitate to consult with a workers’ compensation attorney to help protect your rights and interests.

The doctor that you choose to treat your injury is important. You should speak to an attorney as soon as possible in your worker’s compensation case, so that they can help you get to the best doctors available.

If you are unhappy with the rating you are given, you have a right to get a second opinion from a doctor of your choice, and the insurance company has to pay for it.

If you’ve been given an impairment rating that is unfair or too low, you do have a right to challenge the impairment rating by filing a hearing request with the State Board of Worker’s Compensation.