Every few years the Permanent Partial Disability rate or PPD rate changes here in Wisconsin. Find out what changes came to the PPD for 2023, how the PPD is calculated on an individual basis, and what these changes mean for you. As always, Tabak Law is here to help!
Updated Permanent Partial Disability Rate for 2023
On April 8, 2022, Wisconsin Governor Evers signed 2021 Wisconsin Act 232 into law, which makes changes to workers’ compensation regulations in the state. The new law modifies the payment amounts for injured workers and the wage calculation process for part-time employees. Under the law, the maximum weekly Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) benefit rate increases from $362 to $415 for injuries occurring on or after April 10, 2022, and will increase further to $430 for injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2023.
Workers’ Compensation Eligibility When Working From Home
What is the Permanent Partial Disability Rate?
The Permanent Partial Disability rate or PPD rate is a payment amount of which you can receive a portion or all as the result of a workplace injury that leaves you partially but permanently disabled.
How is Your PPD Calculated?
Before your PPD is calculated your final determination must be made which typically occurs once you have reached MMI, or maximum medical improvement. In other words, if you injure a finger, they will wait to make a determination until you are fully or at least nearly as healed as you are going to get from the injury. This will be determined by a doctor.
At that point, your treating physician will asses a disability percentage. To determine your PPD you take this percentage and multiply it by the number of payable weeks for the associated injury. The week number varies based on the injury and you can try to see where your injury will land using the chart below.
Permanent Partial Disability Schedule Chart
| Loss of Body Part | Weeks of Compensation | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finger | Distal | 2nd Joint | Proximal | Metacarpal & metacarpal bone |
| Thumb | 50 weeks | 120 weeks | 160 weeks | |
| Index | 12 weeks | 30 weeks | 50 weeks | 60 weeks |
| Middle | 8 weeks | 20 weeks | 35 weeks | 45 weeks |
| Ring | 6 weeks | 15 weeks | 20 weeks | 26 weeks |
| Little | 6 weeks | 16 weeks | 22 weeks | 28 weeks |
| Loss of Body Part | Weeks of Compensation |
|---|---|
| Arm at the shoulder | 500 weeks |
| Arm at the elbow | 450 weeks |
| Hand/at wrist | 400 weeks |
| Palm where thumb remains | 325 weeks |
| All fingers on one hand at their proximal joints | 225 weeks |
| Loss of Body Part | Weeks of Compensation |
|---|---|
| Leg at the hip joint | 500 weeks |
| Leg at the knee | 425 weeks |
| Foot at the ankle | 250 weeks |
| Loss of Body Part | Weeks of Compensation | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toe | Distal | 2nd Joint | Proximal | Metacarpal & metacarpal bone |
| Great | 12 weeks | 25 weeks | 83 1/3 weeks | |
| Second | 4 weeks | 6 weeks | 8 weeks | 25 weeks |
| Third | 4 weeks | 4 weeks | 6 weeks | 20 weeks |
| Fourth | 4 weeks | 4 weeks | 6 weeks | 20 weeks |
| Little | 4 weeks | 4 weeks | 6 weeks | 20 weeks |
| Loss of Body Part | Weeks of Compensation |
|---|---|
| One Eye, by enucleation or evisceration | 275 weeks |
| One Eye for industrial use | 250 weeks |
| Total Deafness by accident or sudden trauma | 330 weeks |
| Total deafness, one ear from accident or sudden trauma | 55 weeks |
Once you have the week number multiplied by the percentage, you multiply that by the max PPD amount. Due to recent changes, this amount has gone up to $430 as of January 1st of 2023. However, the amount used depends on when your injury occurred. If the injury occurred in June 2020, you would use the old amount established for that time frame (which is $362).
What Does Work-Related Mean for Worker’s Compensation?
How is Your PPD Paid?
First, let’s go through a quick example. Let’s assume your disability percentage is set at 20%, you were injured at the ankle (250 weeks), and your injury occurred in February of 2023 with a max rate of $430. You multiply these together (.20 X 250 X $430) to get $21,500.
How you get paid that amount may be different than you expect. You don’t get paid based on the weekly amount nor do you get paid as one lump sum. Instead, you get paid at a rate of $1,568.67 per month until your total benefit amount has been paid, typically meaning that your last payment amount will be partial.
Read More: When You Are Hurt At Work What Benefits Are You Entitled To?
Need Legal Help Fighting for Your Permanent Partial Disability Benefit?
Tabak Law is here to help. We are a Wisconsin firm based out of Milwaukee, and we have the expertise that you want on your side as you fight for the benefits that you deserve. If you have any questions or want a free case review, please reach out to Tabak today!
Nothing posted on this website is intended, nor should be construed, as legal advice. Blog postings and site content are available for general education purposes only.