What Is a Permanent Partial Disability Rating in Connecticut?

When you are injured at work in Connecticut, you are likely covered by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance, and the amount you can receive in benefits will depend on the disability rating assigned to you during your functional capacity evaluation. It’s possible to receive total disability benefits if you are completely unable to work, but what is a permanent partial disability rating in Connecticut?

Understanding Disability Ratings in Connecticut Workers’ Compensation Cases

When someone is injured on the job in Connecticut, they should report the accident to their employer right away. If the injury is severe enough to require medical intervention and causes the victim to miss work, they are likely eligible to claim workers’ compensation benefits through their employer. One of the steps they will need to complete to qualify for benefits will be a functional capacity evaluation.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in 2022, there were about 35,700 reports of nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses from private sector employers throughout Connecticut in 2022, and about 23,400 of these cases were severe enough to require job transfers, duty restrictions, or missed days of work. If you are hurt on the job, you should consult a New London workers’ compensation lawyer to help you navigate the claim-filing process.

After reporting your injury to your employer, you will need to see a local doctor approved by your employer’s insurance carrier. This workers’ compensation doctor will evaluate your condition and then assign you a disability rating, which will be a major determining factor when it comes to the benefits you can receive. In Connecticut, workers’ compensation disability benefits are paid according to the severity of the claimant’s condition.

Total vs Partial Disability Benefits in New London

Total disability benefits are paid when the claimant is completely unable to work during their recovery. When paid on a temporary basis, these payments continue until the claimant is able to resume working. If they have been permanently disabled and will not be able to work anymore, they may qualify to receive permanent total disability benefits.

Partial disability benefits are paid when the claimant can still work, but their injury limits their earning capacity. Essentially, if you can still work but cannot earn your usual wage, then you would likely receive temporary partial disability benefits until you can resume work at your usual earning level. If the injury is severe enough to prevent this but does not completely prevent you from working, you may receive permanent partial disability benefits.

In Connecticut, permanent partial disability benefits are paid according to a schedule of possible injuries, and the amount a claimant receives typically depends on the nature and overall severity of their condition. These benefits are paid weekly, and the claimant will need to report how much they are able to earn to the workers’ compensation insurance carrier to continue receiving these benefits.

If you are preparing to file a workers’ compensation claim in Connecticut and have concerns about your eligibility for disability benefits, it’s a good idea to hire a disability lawyer before you start the filing process. The team at Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law has extensive experience handling these cases for clients in New London and throughout Connecticut, and we are confident we can help. Reach out to our firm to learn more about our legal services.

FAQs

Can I Sue My Employer for a Disabling Work Injury?

You usually cannot sue your employer for a disabling work injury, except under specific conditions. However, a New London personal injury lawyer may determine that you have grounds to file a civil suit against a specific third party if they directly caused your injury. This third-party personal injury case could allow you to recover compensation for damages that workers’ compensation insurance doesn’t cover, such as your pain and suffering.

How Much Can I Receive in Permanent Partial Disability Benefits?

The amount you can receive in permanent partial disability benefits largely depends on how much you are still able to earn after recovering as much as possible from your injury. If you are awarded any partial disability benefits from your employer’s insurance carrier, you must report your weekly earnings to the insurance carrier, and each payment is intended to make up the difference between this amount and how much you usually earned at your job.

What Happens if I Disagree With the Doctor’s Disability Rating?

If you disagree with the doctor’s disability rating, your disability attorney may be able to help you secure a second opinion from a different workers’ compensation doctor, and your attorney can help you arrange a hearing with the Connecticut Workers’ Compensation Commission. The parties involved will present their conflicting medical evidence so a judge can help them reach a compromise.

Can I Switch From Total Disability Benefits to Partial Disability Benefits?

Yes, it is possible for you to switch from total disability benefits to partial disability benefits. If you are initially unable to work at all due to your injury, you will likely receive total disability benefits as part of your workers’ compensation settlement. However, if your condition improves enough for you to return to work in a limited capacity, then you may shift to receiving partial disability benefits to help make up for your diminished earnings.

Why Should I Hire a Disability Lawyer in Connecticut?

You should hire a disability lawyer in Connecticut to help you secure the fairest possible determination of benefits after your injury. The workers’ compensation claim-filing process may seem straightforward at first, but you are likely to encounter various issues that you will not be able to resolve on your own. Hiring legal counsel significantly improves your chances of obtaining suitable benefits and resolving any problems you encounter.

Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law has more than 80 years of experience representing injured clients in workers’ compensation cases throughout Connecticut. If you have questions about your eligibility to receive disability benefits or what your permanent partial disability rating means, we can clarify these issues for you. Contact our team today to schedule your consultation with an experienced Connecticut disability benefits attorney and learn how we can help.