Impairment Rating Payout Calculator

Whole Person Impairment Rating (%):

Average Weekly Wage (AWW):

State-Specific PPD Rate (% of AWW):

Maximum Weekly PPD Benefit ($):

Number of Weeks Assigned per 1% Impairment:

Estimated Payout:

Enter values and click 'Calculate'

Understanding Your Impairment Rating Payout

An impairment rating payout is a crucial component of workers' compensation or personal injury claims, particularly when an injury results in a permanent disability. This calculator helps you estimate the potential financial compensation you might receive based on common factors used in such calculations. It's important to remember that laws vary significantly by state and jurisdiction, and this calculator provides an estimate, not a legal guarantee.

What is an Impairment Rating?

An impairment rating is a percentage assigned by a medical doctor, often an independent medical examiner (IME), to describe the degree of permanent functional loss to a body part or to the whole person as a result of an injury. This rating is typically based on guidelines published by the American Medical Association (AMA) Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment. For example, a 10% whole person impairment rating means that your injury has resulted in a 10% permanent loss of your overall bodily function.

Key Factors in Calculating Your Payout

The total payout for an impairment rating, often referred to as Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) benefits, is determined by several key variables:

Whole Person Impairment Rating (%): This is the core percentage determined by a medical professional. A higher rating generally leads to a higher payout.
Average Weekly Wage (AWW): Your average earnings per week prior to your injury. This figure is used to establish your weekly benefit rate.
State-Specific PPD Rate (% of AWW): Most states calculate your weekly PPD benefit as a percentage of your AWW. A common rate is 66.67% (two-thirds) of your AWW.
Maximum Weekly PPD Benefit ($): All states impose a maximum cap on the weekly PPD benefit amount, regardless of how high your AWW might be. This prevents excessively large weekly payments.
Number of Weeks Assigned per 1% Impairment: Each state has a schedule that assigns a specific number of weeks of benefits for each percentage point of impairment. For instance, a state might assign 3 weeks of benefits for every 1% of whole person impairment.

How the Calculation Works (Simplified Example)

Our calculator uses a common methodology to estimate your payout:

Determine Your Potential Weekly PPD Benefit: This is calculated by multiplying your Average Weekly Wage (AWW) by the State-Specific PPD Rate percentage.
Apply the Maximum Weekly PPD Benefit Cap: Your actual weekly PPD benefit will be the lower of your potential weekly PPD benefit or the state's maximum weekly PPD benefit.
Calculate Total Weeks of Benefits: This is found by multiplying your Whole Person Impairment Rating by the Number of Weeks Assigned per 1% Impairment.
Calculate Total Payout: Finally, your total estimated payout is the actual weekly PPD benefit multiplied by the total weeks of benefits.

Example Scenario:

Whole Person Impairment Rating: 15%
Average Weekly Wage (AWW): $900
State-Specific PPD Rate (% of AWW): 66.67%
Maximum Weekly PPD Benefit: $1,000
Number of Weeks Assigned per 1% Impairment: 3.5 weeks

Let's break it down:

Potential Weekly PPD: $900 * 0.6667 = $600.03
Actual Weekly PPD: Since $600.03 is less than the $1,000 maximum, your actual weekly PPD benefit is $600.03.
Total Weeks of Benefits: 15% * 3.5 weeks/percent = 52.5 weeks
Total Estimated Payout: $600.03/week * 52.5 weeks = $31,501.58

Important Considerations

This calculator provides a general estimate. Actual payouts can be influenced by many factors, including:

Specific state laws and workers' compensation statutes.
The exact wording of your medical impairment report.
Negotiations with insurance companies.
Legal representation and court decisions.
Additional benefits for medical expenses, vocational rehabilitation, or other types of disability.

For an accurate assessment of your specific case, it is always recommended to consult with a qualified attorney specializing in workers' compensation or personal injury law in your jurisdiction.