Permanent Impairment Benefits v. Disfigurement Benefits for Workers’ Compensation Injuries

Experiencing a life-altering, long-term injury while working to support yourself and your family can not only result in a permanent change in your ability to earn but also in long-term medical costs and changes in your quality of life. The purpose of filing a claim or case for your work-related injuries is to cover the costs and damages linked to your injuries, and when they result in impairment or disfigurement, the amount can be substantial. 

Exploring options on your case with an experienced PA workers’ compensation lawyer from Vanasse Law, LLC through a free initial consultation is a useful way to frame expectations on your case, and read on to learn more about the differences between benefits for permanent impairment or disfigurement, as you’ll see they are complementary and collected separately and in addition to one another. 

Permanent Impairment Benefits are Paid Through Partial or Complete Disability 

The primary aspect of your injury settlement claim will generally be for the medical and occupational costs linked to your injuries. The PA Bureau of Disability Determination (BDD) is the state agency that works with the Social Security Administration to determine whether PA citizens who are disabled are entitled to federal disability benefits. 

Under PA law, for an adult to be found to be disabled: 

• They must be unable to do any substantial work due to a medical condition, and
• The medical condition must have lasted, or be expected to last, for at least one year or expected to result in the death of the injured 

Your case and claim are supported by collected evidence that would be admissible in court to measure your damages, something your workers’ compensation attorney helps you take care of. 

Disfigurement Benefits are Paid In Addition to Disability Benefits 

One of the most important facts to note about disfigurement benefits in Pennsylvania is that they are paid in addition to and separately from any disability benefits you might be entitled to and/or already collecting. Generally, it will be the for-profit insurance company of your employer responding to your request through their attorneys. 

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry clarifies the following in reference to disfigurement benefits: 

• They are paid for a serious, permanent, and unsightly disfigurement
• To the heat, face, or neck area 
• Are available for a term of 1 to 275 weeks 
• There is no PA-law-determined amount to be paid 
• An “Agreement Form” between the injured employee and the employer and/or their insurance provider is filed to collect the benefits 

Connect with a PA Workers’ Compensation Lawyer from Vanasse Law, LLC 

If you have been injured on the job and are working on measuring the damages you are entitled to for disability and/or disfigurement or are already collecting disability and would like to collect the disfigurement benefits you are entitled to, we can help. To learn how an experienced local workers’ compensation attorney from Vanasse Law can advocate for the fullest coverage for your work-related injuries possible, visit our site to schedule your free initial consultation.