If you have been injured on the job in Washington State and your claim is reaching a conclusion, you may be eligible for a Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) award. Unlike a "settlement" in a personal injury case, a PPD award is a statutory amount determined by the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) based on the severity of your permanent impairment.
PPD Award Estimator
*This is an estimate based on the maximum award for "Total Disability" or "Unspecified Impairment" for the selected year.
Understanding PPD Awards in Washington State
In Washington, L&I (or your self-insured employer) pays a Permanent Partial Disability award when a workplace injury or occupational disease results in a permanent loss of bodily function. This happens once your medical provider or an Independent Medical Examiner (IME) determines you have reached "Maximum Medical Improvement" (MMI).
How the Award is Determined
The amount you receive is not based on your pain and suffering or your lost wages. Instead, it is strictly controlled by a "Schedule of Benefits" that is updated every July. The calculation involves three main factors:
- The Date of Injury: The rates in effect on the day you were hurt govern your claim forever.
- The Body Part: Washington distinguishes between "Specified" injuries (like losing a finger or a leg) and "Unspecified" injuries (like a back injury or post-traumatic stress disorder).
- The Rating: A doctor will assign a percentage of impairment. For unspecified injuries, this is often done using "Categories" of impairment.
Specified vs. Unspecified Disabilities
Specified disabilities are listed in a specific table. For example, the loss of a leg at the hip has a fixed dollar value. If a doctor says you have a 10% impairment of that leg, you receive 10% of that fixed value.
Unspecified disabilities include the spine, internal organs, and mental health conditions. These are calculated as a percentage of the "Total Disability" value (the maximum award allowed for a single injury).
Payment of the Award
If your PPD award is less than three times the state's average monthly wage at the time of injury, L&I usually pays it in a single lump sum. If the award is larger, they will pay an initial down payment, followed by monthly installments. Note that interest is not typically added to these installments.
What to do if you disagree with your rating?
It is very common for an IME doctor to provide a lower rating than what a worker's attending physician might suggest. If you receive an "Order and Notice" from L&I stating your PPD award and you believe it is too low, you have 60 days to file a written protest or appeal.
Key Considerations:
- Did the doctor consider all of your related conditions?
- Was the rating performed according to the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment?
- Is your claim truly ready to close, or do you need more treatment?