Posted in Personal injury
When a work injury keeps you from doing your job, Wisconsin workers’ compensation provides disability benefits to replace a portion of your lost wages. But not all disability benefits are the same. Whether your injury results in a short recovery or a lasting condition, the type of benefit you receive depends on the nature and severity of your disability. Understanding the difference matters. It affects how long you receive payments, how much those payments are, and what happens when your medical condition reaches a plateau.
Temporary Disability Benefits in Wisconsin
Temporary disability benefits apply when you are unable to work or unable to work at full capacity while you are still recovering. Wisconsin recognizes two types:
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD) pays when you are completely unable to work while healing.
- Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) applies when you return to light-duty work but earn less than you did before your injury.
TTD benefits are calculated at two-thirds of your average weekly wage, subject to state maximums. These payments continue until you return to work, reach maximum medical improvement (MMI), or hit the statutory limit on benefits.
Once your treating physician determines that your condition is as good as it is going to get, you have reached MMI. At that point, temporary benefits stop. This is where many injured workers feel uncertain about what comes next.
Permanent Disability Benefits in Wisconsin
If your injury leaves you with a lasting impairment after reaching MMI, you may qualify for permanent disability benefits. Wisconsin recognizes two distinct categories.
Permanent Partial Disability
Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) applies when you have a lasting impairment but can still work in some capacity. A physician assigns an impairment rating as a percentage, and that percentage determines the number of weeks of compensation you receive.
Permanent Total Disability
Permanent Total Disability (PTD) is reserved for the most severe injuries, where the worker is completely unable to return to any form of gainful employment. PTD benefits can continue for the remainder of the injured person’s life.
A Waukesha workers compensation lawyer can help you understand which category your injury falls into and whether the impairment rating you received accurately reflects your condition.
Why Getting This Classification Right Matters
The disability classification directly affects the total value of your claim. An inaccurate impairment rating, or a misclassification from the start, can cost you a significant amount of compensation.
Insurance carriers do not always assign the most favorable rating, and they have financial reasons to classify injuries as less severe than they are. You have the right to challenge a rating with an independent medical exam. A Waukesha workers compensation lawyer can guide you through that process and flag anything that gets overlooked.
Wisconsin’s rules around disability classifications are outlined by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, which is a useful starting point for understanding how benefits are structured.
Talk to an Attorney About Your Claim
If you are unsure whether you are receiving the right type of benefits or whether your impairment rating reflects the full extent of your injury, legal guidance can make a real difference. Hickey & Turim, S.C. has represented injured Wisconsin workers for decades. Contact the firm today to get a clear picture of where your case stands and what compensation you may still be owed.
