Scheduled awards are separate and distinct benefits made in addition to any other
WC paid, such as weekly compensation. They are made in a single payment, often concurrently
with TT WC. These permanent impairment awards are based on the percentage of permanent
loss of use of a certain compensable body part (such as an arm or leg), as determined
by the statutory schedule. The schedule lists the total number of weeks of WC allowed
for the different body parts. If the injury caused a permanent loss to more than one
compensable body part or to the spine, the award is given on the basis of a whole
person permanent impairment, and is based on 350 weeks (so that a 50 percent whole
person impairment would yield a 175 week award). These awards may also be made for
some types of disfigurement.
The award amount is calculated using a relatively simple formula. To calculate the
award amount, take the following steps:
-
a.
Multiply the number of weeks for the body part injured by the percentage of loss established;
then
-
b.
Multiply the number of weeks calculated in Step 1 by the worker's WC rate.
Example: 10 percent loss of an arm would be 10 percent times 210 weeks (the number of weeks
for loss of an arm). The resulting 21 weeks of benefits times the WC rate equals the
total award. If the WC rate was $325 per week, the total award would be $6825. We
would prorate this lump sum at $325 per week for 21 weeks.