Can I Get Permanent Workers' Comp Benefits?

 Posted on June 05, 2025 in Workers' Compensation

If your work-related injury leaves you unable to return to your previous job or to any kind of meaningful employment, you may be eligible for permanent workers’ compensation benefits in Illinois. These benefits are not automatic and depend on the nature of your injury, your recovery, and how your medical condition affects your ability to work. 

As of June 2025, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act continues to provide several categories of permanent benefits, each with its own requirements. To find out more about how our team of Will County, IL workers’ compensation lawyers can help you maximize your benefits, call 815-730-1977.

What Counts as a Permanent Injury Under Illinois Law?

An injury is considered permanent if it results in a lasting impairment, even after you have reached maximum medical improvement. This does not mean you are completely disabled. Some people are able to work in a different capacity, while others cannot work at all. Illinois recognizes different types of permanent disability benefits based on how the injury affects your earning capacity or physical function.

What Types of Permanent Workers’ Comp Benefits Can You Receive?

Illinois law provides four categories of permanent disability benefits:

• Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): If you have a lasting injury but can still work in some capacity, you may qualify for PPD benefits. This could be a scheduled loss (like the loss of a hand or foot), a wage differential award, or a percentage of loss of the person as a whole.

• Permanent Total Disability (PTD): If your injuries prevent you from working in any job, you may receive PTD benefits, which pay two-thirds of your average weekly wage for life.

• Wage Differential Benefits: If you return to work but earn significantly less because of your injury, you may receive two-thirds of the difference between your pre-injury and post-injury wages.

• Disfigurement Benefits: If your injury leaves visible scars or disfigurement, particularly on the face, neck, hands, or arms, you may qualify for additional compensation.

How Do You Prove That Your Work Injury Is Permanent?

You will need medical documentation showing that you have reached maximum medical improvement, which is the point where further recovery is not expected, and that your condition results in a lasting limitation. The insurance company may request an independent medical examination (IME) to evaluate your condition. If the two doctors disagree, the case may go before an arbitrator appointed by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission.

Your testimony, job history, education, and training limitations will also play a role. In cases involving wage differential or permanent total disability, the arbitrator will look at whether you can perform any job for which you are reasonably suited based on your experience and training.

Can You Settle a Claim for Permanent Disability?

Many workers choose to settle their permanent disability claims for a lump sum, especially when it becomes clear that returning to their previous job is unlikely. A settlement must be approved by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission and should reflect the full value of your long-term losses. In some cases, the settlement may include future medical care or vocational rehabilitation.

Contact a Joliet, IL Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

If your injury has led to a permanent limitation or total disability, you should not have to face the claims process alone. A Will County, IL workers’ compensation attorney can help you gather the right documentation, push back on low settlement offers, and fight for the benefits you deserve. Call Rathbun, Cservenyak & Kozol LLC at 815-730-1977 to schedule a free consultation with a workers’ comp lawyer today.