Permanent and Partial Disability According to the Social Security Administration
Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2010/02/27 - Updated: 2024/02/16
Publication Type: Informative
Category Topic: Disability Information - Academic Publications
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main
Synopsis: To quality for U.S. compensation disability must be proved either Permanent Partial Disability and Temporary Total Disability. U.S. Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) benefits are paid when you are not completely disabled.
Introduction
According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), a disability can be physical, mental or emotional, or a combination of all.
Main Content
The U.S. Social Security Administration offers disability benefits through the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. To quality for compensation through these programs, at least one of two types of disability must be proved: Permanent Partial Disability and Temporary Total Disability.
Permanent Partial Disability (PPD)
Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) benefits are paid when you are not completely disabled. Often, this means you can return to some form of work, but usually at a lower-earning capacity than your previous job before injury. A more formal definition is that you can perform one or more, but not all of the primary responsibilities of your normal occupation.
In this instance, your PPD wage loss benefits are based on a percentage of the difference between your previous and current wages. Permanent Partial Disability benefits can last up to 500 weeks from the date of your injury or diagnosis.
The SSA's PPD benefits differ substantially from the agency's Temporary Total Disability benefits.
Under Workers' Compensation law, permanent partial disability is generally defined as an injury that impairs the physical or mental ability of a worker to carry out some part of normal work duties for the rest of his/her life.
Permanent and partial disability can also be used as a basis for awarding damages in a personal injury lawsuit.
Temporary Total Disability (TTD)
In contrast to the SSA's Permanent Partial Disability benefits, Temporary Total Disability (TTD) benefits typically are retroactive to one week from the date you were last able to work and may last indefinitely.
Total disability is a complete restriction from all work, based on the opinion of a physician.
TTD benefits are also based on a percentage of average weekly wages but are paid at an injured worker's full wage rate.
After week 104 of receiving TTD benefits, you may have an impairment rating evaluation (IRE). If a physician determines at the IRE that you have reached maximum medical improvement and you are not more than 50 percent disabled, your status can be changed to Permanent Partial Disability.
How Do You Apply for SSA Disability Benefits?
You can apply online through the SSA website. Keep in mind, however, that the process is complex and intentionally complicated. Statistics show that applicants who work with a Social Security disability attorney receive benefits more often that those who apply without legal assistance.
If you have been injured and are not able to work, you may be eligible for permanent or temporary benefits, or Workers Compensation.
Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.