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Glossary · PA Workers' Comp
Total Disability
A workers' comp benefit status for injured workers who cannot perform any work, entitling them to 2/3 of their average weekly wage subject to PA statutory limits.
Definition
Total disability under Pennsylvania workers' compensation law describes the condition of an injured worker who is completely unable to perform any job — not just their pre-injury job. An employee classified as totally disabled is entitled to wage replacement benefits equal to 2/3 of their average weekly wage.
Total Disability Under PA Law: Duration, Impairment Ratings, and the 104-Week Rule
Under Pennsylvania's impairment rating system, an injured worker who has been receiving total disability benefits for 104 weeks may be required to undergo an impairment rating evaluation (IRE) to determine whether they meet the threshold for total disability continuation.
Following the 2018 Protz v. WCAB decision and subsequent legislative action, Pennsylvania's IRE process uses the 6th edition of the AMA Guides to assess impairment.
Workers with less than 35% whole-body impairment under the IRE may be reclassified to partial disability status, which has a 500-week time limit. Workers with 35%+ impairment may continue on total disability benefits.
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