Skip to content
Big enough to win, small enough to care
Pay Online  | Call Us Today 1-715-344-0890
Anderson O'Brien, LLP Logo
  • About Our Firm
    • History
    • News
    • Newsletter
    • Careers
    • Central Wisconsin Community Involvement
    • Walk for Hope 2025
  • Practice Areas
    • Accident & Personal Injury
    • Business & Corporate Law
    • Divorce & Family Law
    • Divorce Mediation
    • Elder Law & Guardianship
    • Employment & Labor Law
    • Litigation & Dispute Resolution
    • Municipal Law
    • Nursing Home Planning
    • Probate & Trust Settlements
    • Real Estate
    • Tax Planning
    • Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning
    • Workers’ Compensation
  • Attorneys
  • Blog
  • Seminars
Contact Us

Permanent Partial Disability and How it Could Affect You.

Home  >  Blog Articles  >  Permanent Partial Disability and How it Could Affect You.

March 17, 2025 | By Attorney Bradley A. Yanke
Permanent Partial Disability and How it Could Affect You.

When thinking about workers’ compensation injuries, workers understandably focus on the immediate necessities of (1) getting medical expenses paid and (2) wage replacement for missed work. Medical expenses and wage replacement, also known as, temporary total disability (TTD) or temporary partial disability (TPD) make up two out of the three main workers’ compensation benefits. However, workers need to make sure they are taking advantage of the third main benefit afforded under Wisconsin Workers’ Compensation law: permanent partial disability (PPD).

Because workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, there is no payment for pain and suffering, as there is in normal fault-based claims like auto accidents or slips and falls. That said, Wisconsin’s Workers’ Compensation law does allow for payment for permanent functional loss or impairment caused by a work injury. When an injured worker’s doctor decides that the worker has reached an “end of healing” or “healing plateau,” the doctor may assign a percentage of permanent disability to the affected body part. This rating takes into account the permanent losses the employee will have such as, range of motion, loss of endurance, weakness, pain, and other elements.

This percent of functional disability is determined by the worker’s treating physician. Wisconsin PPD ratings are not required to follow the American Medical Association (AMA) Disability Guidelines. The ratings are left up to the discretion of the treating physician with some guidance from the AMA. Also, there are certain scheduled injuries and surgeries that will qualify a worker for a minimum percentage, e.g. total knee or total shoulder replacement would equal 50% minimum.
In terms of calculating the PPD benefit, the PPD percentage assigned is multiplied by the number of weeks the total body part is “worth” if the body part was completely lost. For example, a shoulder is “worth” 500 weeks, this means if a worker’s entire shoulder was amputated, he or she would be entitled to 500 weeks of PPD. If a doctor assigns the worker, for example, 12% PPD to the injured shoulder, that worker is entitled to 60 weeks of PPD payments (.12 x 500). For injuries occurring after January 1, 2025, the PPD weekly rate is $446. To illustrate, the 12% PPD for a shoulder injury, occurring after January 1, 2025 is worth $26,760 (.12 x 500 x $446).

While PPD benefits are not huge sums of money, especially compared to personal injury awards, these are claims that injured workers need to make sure they are asking their treating physicians about once an end of healing is reached. Even a few percentage points of permanency can provide the injured worker needed compensation during a very stressful period.

If you have been injured at work and have questions, or your work compensation claim has been denied by the insurance company, please reach out to our experienced Workers’ Compensation Attorneys for assistance.

Are you looking for legal advice?

Let one of our experienced attorneys assist you today.

Contact Us
  • Stevens Point, Wisconsin Wrongful Death Lawyer
  • Stevens Point, Wisconsin Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer
  • Stevens Point, Wisconsin Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
  • Stevens Point, Wisconsin Car Accident Lawyer
  • Stevens Point Wisconsin Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
  • Stevens Point, Wisconsin Bicycle Accident Lawyer
  • Central Wisconsin Truck Accident Lawyer
  • Stevens Point, Wisconsin Construction Accident Lawyer
  • Stevens Point, Wisconsin Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
  • Stevens Point, Wisconsin Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Table Of Contents

Excellence in law. Dedication to our community

Let’s Get In Touch

Are you looking for legal advice? Let one of our experienced attorneys assist you today.

Contact Us

Anderson Law Full Group

Anderson O'Brien, LLP Logo
1257 Main Street,
Stevens Point, WI 54481
1-715-344-0890 info@andlaw.com
  • Pay Online
  • Seminars
  • Newsletter
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap

Connect With Us

Anderson O’Brien, LLP has a team of exceptional attorneys who concentrate in one or more areas of the law. Our ability to utilize the expertise of each of our attorneys for the benefit of our clients is what sets us apart and makes us unique in central Wisconsin. Excellence in law. Dedication to our community.

© 2025 Anderson O'Brien, LLP | All rights reserved.