A significant number of workers experience injuries while on the job, and unfortunately, not all of them make a full recovery. Many workers suffer from permanent impairments resulting from workplace injuries. In such cases, workers in New York City can rely on the workers’ compensation system, which provides partial disability benefits.

How Are Partial Disability Benefits Paid?

When workers sustain a qualifying work injury, they initially receive temporary partial disability or temporary total disability benefits. Temporary partial disability benefits are for workers who return to lower-paying positions after an injury, while temporary total disability benefits are for workers unable to work for at least seven days.

Over time, workers may become eligible for permanent partial disability benefits. To apply for these benefits, workers must obtain a rating from a physician. The severity of the impairments determines the ratings. The rating plays a crucial role as it largely determines the amount of permanent partial disability benefits you will receive.

To calculate these benefits, multiply the physician’s rating by the number of weeks corresponding to the injured body part, and then multiply the result by the workers’ temporary total disability rate.

For instance, let’s consider an injured hand (worth 160 weeks), a 20 percent rating given by the physician, and a temporary total disability benefit of $500 per week. In this case, the permanent partial disability benefits would amount to $16,000 (160 x 20 percent x $500).

The New York Workers’ Compensation Law provides a schedule specifying the number of weeks of compensation for specific body part injuries.

For a complimentary consultation with a partial disability benefits lawyer in New York City, please call (212) 463-8888.

How long can I receive temporary partial disability benefits?

If you qualify for temporary partial disability benefits, you are eligible to receive benefits for a maximum of 350 weeks from the date of your injury.