Permanent disability benefits are paid after an injury becomes “permanent and stationary.” Permanent means the injury will cause a lasting impairment. Stationary means the injury has stopped healing and has healed as much as it ever will. Whether an injury has become permanent and stationary is usually determined by your treating physician.
Most permanent disabilities do not prevent employees from working, but they sometimes prevent an employee from doing the same kind of work the employee did prior to the injury. Employees who have a permanent impairment are entitled to permanent disability benefits even if they are capable of resuming their former employment.
