“Permanent Partial Disability” Benefits Guide for Injured Workers
What are Permanent Partial Disability Benefits?
When your doctor gives you an “impairment rating” for permanent disability, you’re entitled to start drawing weekly checks for 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.
To qualify for PPD benefits in Georgia, an employee must meet all of the following criteria:
- Work-Related Injury or Illness - The condition must have occurred or been caused by your employment
- Permanent Impairment - The injury or illness must result in lasting physical limitations
- Physician-Assigned Rating - A disability rating must be assigned by an authorized physician using the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment
- Not Drawing Lost Wage Benefits - If you are still receiving Temporary Total Disability (TTD) or Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) benefits, you are not eligible for PPD benefits until those benefits end.
- Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) - You must have reached a point where your condition is not expected to improve significantly with further medical treatment
PPD Benefits Calculator
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The percentage from your doctor's impairment rating
Whole Body is assigned 300 weeks under Georgia law
Your weekly compensation rate
Our Georgia workers’ compensation attorneys have helped injured workers maximize their permanent partial disability benefits. We can help you understand your impairment rating, challenge unfair ratings, and ensure you receive all the benefits you’re entitled to. Call us at (770) 886-3030 for a free consultation.
How Is The Impairment Rating Calculated
The AMA Guides, Fifth Edition is the official reference used for all impairment ratings in Georgia workers' compensation cases
The AMA Guides: Official Rating Standard
Your impairment rating must be determined by your authorized treating physician based on the American Medical Association’s (AMA) Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, Fifth Edition. The authorized treating physician is the doctor you selected from your employer’s panel of physicians to manage your workers’ compensation case.
These impairment ratings help determine the severity of your injury and its impact on your ability to function, which directly affects the number of weeks of PPD benefits you’ll receive.
Why Ratings Vary Between Doctors
While the AMA Guides provide standardized criteria, assigning an impairment rating is still a subjective process. Often there is a range of possible ratings that your doctor can give you for the same injury.
Unfortunately, some doctors consistently give impairment ratings on the lower end of the range because they know it will save money for the insurance company. This is why choosing the right doctor from your employer’s panel is so important.
What is the rating worth?
Determining the exact dollar amount of the rating depends on two key factors:
- The body part the rating is assigned to
- Your average pre-injury income
- The percentage of the impairment rating
Body Part Schedule Explained
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 (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-263).
Common examples include:
- Arm: 225 weeks
- Leg: 225 weeks
- Back (whole person): 300 weeks
- Foot: 135 weeks
Want to see the exact legal language? Read the complete text of Georgia’s PPD statute (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-263), including the full schedule of weeks for each body part and official definitions.
Calculating Your Weeks of Benefits
To calculate how many weeks of PPD benefits you’ll receive, multiply the number of weeks assigned to the body part by your impairment rating percentage.
Example: 15% impairment rating × 225 weeks (arm) = 33.75 weeks of benefits
PPD Calculation Example
Dollar amount of the weekly payments
Current as of 2025: The maximum weekly compensation rate is $800 (applies to injuries after July 1, 2023). Earlier injuries have lower caps. These rates are set by Georgia law and change periodically.
How Your Weekly Benefit Is Calculated
The amount of your weekly PPD checks is based on your “compensation rate.” Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Calculate Your Average Weekly Wage (AWW) Your average weekly wage is typically calculated using your average earnings over the 13 weeks before your injury.
Step 2: Apply the Two-Thirds Rule Your weekly PPD benefit equals two-thirds (66.67%) of your AWW.
Step 3: Apply Maximum/Minimum Limits Georgia law sets caps on how much you can receive, regardless of your income. The compensation rate cannot exceed the statutory maximum or fall below the minimum.
Georgia PPD Schedule: Weeks by Body Part
Major Body Parts
| Body Part | Maximum Weeks |
|---|---|
| Arm | 225 weeks |
| Leg | 225 weeks |
| Hand | 160 weeks |
| Foot | 135 weeks |
Fingers
| Body Part | Maximum Weeks |
|---|---|
| Thumb | 60 weeks |
| Index Finger | 40 weeks |
| Middle Finger | 35 weeks |
| Ring Finger | 30 weeks |
| Little Finger | 25 weeks |
Toes
| Body Part | Maximum Weeks |
|---|---|
| Great Toe | 30 weeks |
| Other Toe | 20 weeks |
Sensory
| Body Part | Maximum Weeks |
|---|---|
| Hearing - One Ear | 75 weeks |
| Hearing - Both Ears | 150 weeks |
| Vision - One Eye | 150 weeks |
Body as a Whole
| Body Part | Maximum Weeks |
|---|---|
| Disability to Body as a Whole | 300 weeks |
How to use this table: Multiply your impairment rating percentage by the weeks assigned to your body part. For example, a 10% rating to your hand = 10% × 160 weeks = 16 weeks of PPD benefits.
Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE)
Your authorized treating physician may order a Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) to objectively assess your physical abilities and limitations. This comprehensive evaluation, typically conducted by a physical therapist, helps determine your work restrictions and supports the impairment rating decision.
When are PPD Benefits Paid?
Understanding when PPD benefits start and how long they last is crucial for financial planning during your recovery
Payment Timeline and Frequency
PPD benefits are typically paid on a weekly basis. The first PPD benefit payment is usually made within 21 days of the insurance carrier receiving the physician’s report with the impairment rating.
When Payments Begin
Your PPD benefits start after two key events have occurred:
- You’ve reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) - Your doctor has determined that your condition won’t improve significantly with additional treatment
- You’ve received your impairment rating - Your authorized physician has assigned a permanent impairment rating based on the AMA Guides
When Payments Cannot Start
You cannot receive PPD benefits while you are receiving Temporary Total Disability (TTD) or Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) benefits.
Important: If you are still out of work and receiving checks for lost income, you will not start receiving PPD benefits until you return to work or your income benefits end.
How Long Payments Last
PPD benefits are paid until you have received the full amount you’re entitled to, based on:
- Your disability rating percentage
- The number of weeks assigned to the specific body part
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.
Time limits are strict in Georgia workers’ compensation cases. If you haven’t received income benefits in nearly four years, contact an attorney immediately. Missing the statute of limitations can permanently bar your claim for PPD benefits, even if you’re legally entitled to them.
Case Study
30-Year Workers' Comp Dispute Over Missing Records
When a Georgia worker injured his back in 1996, he probably never imagined his case would still be active nearly thirty years later. But that is exactly what happened in this unusual workers’ compensation dispute, which eventually led to a 2024 ruling by the State Board of Workers’ Compensation. The case shows how missing records, old injuries, and unpaid benefits can collide many years after an accident.
The Original Injury
The worker was hurt on the job in August 1996 when he fell backwards into a hole while pulling up a tree root. Doctors diagnosed a herniated disc, and he later had back surgery performed by his authorized treating physician, Dr. Michael Hogan. By 1997, Dr. Hogan said the worker had reached maximum medical improvement and had a 10% permanent disability to his whole body.
Missing Records Create Confusion
Years passed, and different types of disability checks were paid at different times. But the insurance company later went into liquidation, and the Georgia Insurers Insolvency Pool (GIIP) took over the claim. The problem was that the original claim file no longer existed. The Board only had access to pieces of the payment history and medical records that GIIP had kept. This made it hard to know exactly what had been paid, what had been voided, and what still remained owed.
The Unpaid Benefits Discovery
The worker eventually filed new hearing requests in 2022 and 2024, saying he was still owed permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits and that he needed medical care, including psychological treatment and assistive equipment like a wheelchair. During the hearing, the Judge reviewed the payment records and found that the worker should have received 30 weeks of PPD benefits based on his 10% rating. But only 16 weeks had actually been paid. Four more weeks were issued and then voided. That meant 14 weeks were still unpaid.
Statute of Limitations Defense Fails
GIIP tried to argue that the worker waited too long to ask for any additional benefits and that the four-year statute of limitations should apply. But they brought up this defense only after the hearing was over, which is too late under Board rules. Even if they had raised it in time, they had no proof of when the last disability payment was actually mailed. Under Georgia law, the mailing date is what counts, and without that evidence, their limitations defense failed.
There was also another twist. Because GIIP had voluntarily started paying PPD benefits back in 2003 without the worker having to file for them, the usual time limit for starting PPD benefits didn’t apply. This meant the worker could still claim the unpaid portion even decades later. The Judge ordered GIIP to pay the remaining 14 weeks in a lump sum, along with a 15% late-payment penalty.
Medical Benefits Denied
The request for medical benefits, however, told a different story. The worker had lived in Mexico for many years after being detained and deported in 2011. He testified that he continued to have pain and had received treatment in 2022, but no medical records were provided to support that. The last documented medical treatment in the file was from 2011, and even those records did not clearly connect his pain to the original work injury. With no recent evidence showing what his current medical condition was, or whether his ongoing issues were still related to the 1996 injury, the Judge denied all claims for new medical treatment, psychological care, and assistive devices.
Key Takeaways
In the end, the ruling highlights how important documentation is in workers’ compensation cases, especially when many years have passed. The worker succeeded in securing the PPD benefits he was still owed, but without current medical proof, the Board could not approve any new medical treatment. The case also shows that insurers must carefully follow legal procedures—raising defenses too late can cost them, even decades after an injury.
Common Mistakes That Reduce PPD Benefits
Many injured workers unknowingly reduce their PPD benefits by making these common mistakes:
1. Not Choosing the Right Panel Doctor Initially
The doctor you select from your employer’s panel of physicians can significantly impact your impairment rating. Some doctors consistently give lower ratings to save the insurance company money.
Solution: Speak with a workers’ compensation attorney early in your case. They know which panel doctors are fair with impairment ratings and can guide you to the right choice.
2. Accepting a Low Rating Without Challenge
If you receive an unfair or low impairment rating, you have options:
- Get a second opinion - You have the right to see a doctor of your choice, and the insurance company must pay for it
- File a hearing request - You can challenge the rating by filing a hearing request with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation
- Present additional evidence - Medical records, FCE results, and expert testimony can support a higher rating
3. Missing the Statute of Limitations
PPD benefits must be filed within four years from the date of your last income benefit payment. Missing this deadline permanently bars your claim.
Solution: Don’t delay. If you’re approaching the four-year mark, contact an attorney immediately.
4. Not Understanding When Benefits Start
Many injured workers don’t realize they cannot receive PPD and TTD/TPD benefits simultaneously. This can create confusion about payment timing.
Solution: Plan ahead. Understand that PPD payments won’t begin until your temporary disability benefits end.
5. Settling Too Quickly
Insurance companies often offer quick settlement offers that undervalue your permanent impairment.
Solution: Before accepting any settlement, consult with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney to ensure you’re getting the full value of your claim.
PPD Claim Readiness Checklist
- Reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) as determined by your doctor
- Received an impairment rating from your authorized treating physician
- Understand which body part the rating applies to and the corresponding weeks
- Know your Average Weekly Wage (AWW) and compensation rate
- Confirmed you're not currently receiving TTD or TPD benefits
- Documented all medical treatment and evaluations related to your injury
- Consulted with a workers' compensation attorney about your rating
- Know the statute of limitations deadline for your case (4 years from last income benefit)
- Considered getting a second opinion if your rating seems low
- Understand your rights to challenge an unfair rating
What Happens After PPD Benefits End?
Once you’ve received all your PPD benefit payments, your workers’ compensation case continues in important ways:
Medical Benefits Continue
Even after PPD benefits end, you may remain entitled to medical treatment for your work-related injury. This includes:
- Doctor visits
- Physical therapy
- Medications
- Surgeries
- Medical equipment
Settlement Considerations
After receiving your PPD benefits, you may consider settling your case. A workers’ compensation settlement can provide:
- A lump sum payment for future medical benefits
- Closure on your case
- Certainty about future compensation
Important: Once you settle, you typically give up the right to future medical treatment or benefits for that injury. Consult an attorney before settling.
Reopening Your Claim
If your condition worsens after PPD benefits end, you may be able to reopen your claim for:
- A new impairment rating
- More PPD benefits (if the rating increases)
Time limit: You generally four years from the last payment of income benefits.
Maximizing Your PPD Benefits: Key Takeaways
Understanding PPD benefits is crucial for protecting your rights after a work-related injury. Remember these key points:
- Choose your panel doctor wisely - Get attorney guidance early
- Don’t accept low ratings - Exercise your right to a second opinion
- Know the time limits - File within four years of your last income benefit payment
- Understand payment timing - PPD benefits can’t start while receiving TTD/TPD
- Keep medical benefits - They continue for life, even after PPD ends
- Get legal help - An experienced attorney ensures you receive maximum benefits
Related Resources
Learn more about Georgia workers’ compensation benefits and claims:
- Georgia PPD Statute (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-263) - Full text of the permanent partial disability law
- Workers’ Compensation Settlement Guide - Understanding settlement negotiations and options
- Understanding Return to Work Programs - Your rights when returning to work after an injury
- What Happens at a Workers’ Comp Hearing - Preparing for your hearing before an Administrative Law Judge
- How Workers’ Compensation Works in Georgia - Complete overview of the workers’ comp system
PPD Benefits FAQs
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