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The Minneapolis/St. Paul personal injury law offices of Howard Sussman represents people with car accident injuries.

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Minnesota Workers' Compensation Information

The workers’ compensation system has developed standards by which to define “disability,” either partial or total, temporary or permanent. Each state has its own schedule of benefits for each type of loss.

Temporary Partial Disability (TPD)

Temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits are paid if, as a result of your injury, you are earning a lower weekly wage than before you were injured. TPD benefits are calculated based on your gross weekly wage at the time of your injury and your current gross weekly earnings. Payment is equal to two-thirds of the difference between what you were earning at the time of your injury and your current wages.

Generally, you will be paid TPD benefits until you are released to return to your previous job or until it is determined that your injury is more permanent.

Temporary Total Disability (TTD)

If you are unable to work due to your injury, you will be paid Temporary Total Disability benefits. Payments are equal to two-thirds of your gross average weekly wage at the time of your injury and are paid at the same intervals as your regular paychecks.

TTD benefits generally end when:

• you have been paid the maximum number of weeks of benefits (see table below);
• you are not participating in an vocational rehabilitation program;
• you have returned to your previous job or other suitable employment.

Permanent Partial Disability (PPD)

Permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits are paid to compensate for the permanent functional loss of use of your body. These benefits are based upon a disability schedule (usually called the PPD)

Disability (or impairment) ratings are assigned as a percentage of disability to the body as a whole, and there are guidelines required when determining the rating. To determine the benefits that are payable, the total percentage rating is multiplied by a specific dollar amount or a number of weeks. Ratings cannot exceed 100 percent of the whole body for any one injury. Permanent partial disability benefits are payable after temporary total (TPD) benefits end, and can be paid concurrently with temporary partial (TPD) and permanent temporary (PTD) benefits.

For example, if the rating it 11 percent, find the 11- to 15-percent range on the table and multiply 11 percent by $85,000. The amount owed is $9,350. Source: Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry.

Permanent Total Disability (PTD)

If, as the result of your work injury, you are never able to return to gainful employment, you may be eligible for PTD benefits. The amount of the PTD benefit is two-thirds of your gross weekly wage at the time of your injury, payable on a monthly basis for the remainder of your life.

Death/dependency benefits

The spouse, children and/or other dependents of an employee who dies as the result of a work related injury or illness is eligible for dependency benefits. Additional workers’ compensation information is available at through the Minnesota Department of Labor.

MEDICAL TREATMENT

If you are entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits, all reasonable and necessary medical expenses related to your work injury will be paid, together with costs incurred for prescriptions and mileage reimbursement for trips to your doctor, physical therapy, etc.

Under most circumstances, you are entitled to choose your own doctor, to change doctors, or seek a second opinion with regard to treatment of your injuries.

UNDERREPORTED WORK ACCIDENTS

Many work accidents go unreported, supressing the real data. For more information, click here.

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION

If a work injury prevents you from returning to your job, you may be eligible for vocational rehabilitation services. Eligibility is based on whether:

due to your injury, you are unable to perform your usual and customary job; your employer is unable to provide you with other suitable employment, and; rehabilitation services will be of benefit for you in your search for another job.

A vocational rehabilitation plan will be developed by you, your employer-insurer, and a qualified rehabilitation consultant (QRC). These services include:

• Modifying job duties to meet with your physical restrictions;
• Seeking alternative employment in the event your employer cannot provide you with suitable work; and
• Training for a new job

INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EVALUATIONS (IME’s)

You may be requested to be examined by an “adverse medical provider.” This is a doctor who is hired by the insurance company. The IME doctor is asked by the insurer to determine the cause and extent of your injuries, your physical restrictions, the date when you reached MMI (maximum medical improvement), and the extent of your permanent disability. This adverse examination can have a negative impact on your benefits. It is important to seek the advice of a workers’ compensation attorney immediately to insure that you continue to receive the maximum benefits available to you.