If you’ve been injured at work in Missouri or Arkansas, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, including Permanent Partial Disability (PPD). However, many injured workers are left wondering, How long do you receive permanent partial disability benefits? Understanding the duration of PPD benefits is essential to ensuring you receive the compensation you deserve for your work-related injury.
At Cottrell Law Office, we’ve spent over 32 years fighting for the rights of injured workers in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. We know how complicated workers’ compensation claims can be, and we’re here to help you understand your rights—so you can focus on your recovery.
What Is a Permanent Partial Disability?
A Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) means that a worker has suffered a lasting impairment due to a workplace injury but can still perform some level of work. This differs from Permanent Total Disability (PTD), where the worker is considered unable to work at all.
The amount and duration of these benefits depend on several factors, including the affected body part, the severity of the injury, and the worker’s permanent partial disability rating assigned by a medical professional.
How Long Do You Receive Permanent Partial Disability in Missouri?
In Missouri, the length of time you receive partial permanent disability benefits is determined by a statewide schedule of injuries. Each body part is assigned a specific number of weeks, which is then adjusted based on the worker’s disability rating. Some examples from Missouri’s PPD schedule include:
- Loss of an arm at the shoulder – 232 weeks
- Loss of a hand at the wrist – 175 weeks
- Total loss of sight in one eye – 140 weeks
- Total loss of hearing in one ear – 49 weeks
To determine the number of weeks you will receive benefits, apply your disability rating to the scheduled amount. For instance, if you suffer a 20% disability rating for a hand injury (175 weeks), you would be entitled to 35 weeks of benefits (175 x 20%).
If your injury is not specifically listed, it is categorized as a body as a whole injury with a maximum value of 400 weeks. The duration of benefits is then calculated based on your disability rating.
How Long Do You Receive Permanent Partial Disability in Arkansas?
Arkansas follows a similar system, but the rules vary slightly from Missouri. The state assigns a set number of weeks for injuries to specific body parts. Injuries not listed in the schedule are assigned a value of 450 weeks.
Some examples of Arkansas’ PPD schedule include:
- Loss of a leg – 184 weeks
- Loss of an arm – 244 weeks
- Total loss of sight in one eye – 105 weeks
- Total loss of hearing in one ear – 43 weeks
If your injury is unscheduled, meaning it does not fall into one of the listed categories, the maximum allowable compensation period is 450 weeks, multiplied by your disability rating. For example, if you have a 10% disability rating for an unscheduled injury, you would receive 45 weeks of benefits (450 x 10%).
What Factors Affect the Duration of Permanent Partial Disability Benefits?
While Missouri and Arkansas have set guidelines, the specific duration of PPD benefits depends on several key factors, including:
- Permanent partial disability rating. A medical professional evaluates your impairment and assigns a percentage rating, determining how much of the scheduled benefit you will receive.
- Body part affected. Some body parts have a higher compensation schedule than others. Losing a leg, for example, results in more weeks of benefits than losing a finger.
- Average weekly wage (AWW). Your benefit payments are typically 66 ⅔% of your average weekly earnings prior to the injury. This rate ensures your compensation is proportionate to your previous income.
- Nature of the injury. Unlisted injuries are calculated as whole-body impairments, which follow a different formula for determining benefit duration.
Because each case is unique, having an experienced workers’ compensation attorney on your side can make a significant difference in maximizing your benefits.
What Should You Do If Your Benefits Are Denied or Cut Off Early?
Unfortunately, many injured workers struggle to receive the benefits they deserve. Some common challenges include:
- Employers disputing the severity of your injury,
- Insurance companies offering low disability ratings,
- Delays in receiving your benefits, or
- Being pressured to return to work too soon.
If you feel like your permanent partial disability benefits are being unfairly reduced, delayed, or denied, you don’t have to fight alone.
How Cottrell Law Office Can Help You
At Cottrell Law Office, we understand that navigating the workers’ compensation system can be overwhelming. Our team is dedicated to making the process as easy as possible while fighting for the full benefits you’re entitled to under Missouri and Arkansas law.
Contact us today for a free consultation if you need help with your workers’ compensation claim.
Wesley Cottrell
Wes Cottrell earned his B.A. from Pittsburg State University in 1981 and his J.D. from the Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kansas in 1985. He was admitted to practice law in Kansas in 1986, in Missouri in 1987, in Arkansas in 1989, and Oklahoma in 1993. He is licensed to practice law in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, eastern Arkansas, western Arkansas, and western Missouri. He was Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Crawford County, Kansas from 1987-1989.
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