Work-related injuries come in all shapes and sizes, ranging in severity and involving various body parts. Depending on the seriousness of the injury, a worker could be disabled for months, years and, in some cases, forever. While the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act does not place limitations on the length of time an injured worker can receive ongoing benefits, the act does establish an impairment rating system for individuals who have been receiving total disability benefits for a period of two years.
Once an employee reaches this two-year mark, the insurer can request that the individual attend an impairment rating evaluation (IRE), which is performed by a physician designated by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. After a physical examination is performed and a review of the medical records is completed, the IRE physician makes a determination as to what percentage the injured worker remains impaired. If the individual is found to be less than 50 percent impaired, which is regularly the case, that person can only receive partial disability benefits for a maximum of 500 additional weeks.
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