What Workers’ Compensation Benefits are Available in Iowa?

Glossary Check

Anyone new to the workers' compensation system -- like a newly injured worker -- might struggle to keep up with the terminology surrounding claims, benefits, and return-to-work. That's why Simply Research keeps up with the lingo. For example, here's how Iowa defines several key terms.

Temporary Total Disability (TTD)

When a worker is off work for more than three calendar days on account of injury, she may be entitled to TTD benefits beginning on the fourth day and continuing until she returns to work or is medically
recovered enough to return to similar work, whichever happens first. If the worker is off work for more than 14 calendar days, she may be entitled to payment for the three-day waiting period.

Temporary Partial Disability (TPD)

If a worker returns to work at a lesser paying job because of the injury, he may be entitled to benefits. The benefit amount is 66 2/3% of the difference between the average gross weekly earnings when injured and the actual earnings while temporarily working at the lesser paying job. The three-day waiting period
also applies to temporary partial disability.

Healing Period (HP)

A worker may be entitled to HP benefits while recovering from an injury which produces a permanent impairment. No waiting period applies to HP benefits. These benefits begin on the first calendar day after the date of injury and continue until the first of the following occurs:

• The worker returns to work

• The worker recovered as much as anticipated from the injury

• The worker is medically capable of returning to the same kind of work she did when injured

If a doctor prescribes work restrictions, the worker has the duty to accept an offer of work from his employer that is within his work restrictions. If the employer makes such an offer, it must be
in writing and include:

• The offer of work within the restrictions

• Notice that the worker may forfeit the right to benefits if the doctor refuses
the offer

• Notice that the worker must provide a response in writing

If a worker is offered work and voluntarily leaves employment or retires, then her benefits may be reduced or eliminated.

Permanent Partial Disability (PPD)

When a work injury results in a permanent impairment to a worker's body, a permanent restriction, or an inability to earn wages similar to those earned before the injury, the worker may be entitled to PPD benefits. PPD benefits are in addition to healing period benefits.

Scheduled Member Disabilities

If an injury is to a scheduled member, PPD benefits are based on functional impairment. If the impairment is less than a full loss, the number of weeks of PPD benefits the worker may receive is a percentage of loss or loss of use multiplied by the full number of weeks for the member.

Body As A Whole Disabilities

When a work injury results in permanent disability to a part of the body not included as a scheduled member, the disability is considered industrial and is determined by assessing the difference between what the worker was able to earn prior to the injury and what the worker was able to earn after the injury. A variety of factors influence the assessment of lost earning capacity. These include the medical condition before the injury, immediately after the injury and now; the part of the body injured; how long the worker
needed to recover from the injury; the worker's work experience, and the worker's qualifications intellectually, emotionally, and physically to learn to perform other work; the worker's earnings before and after the injury; the worker's age; education; motivation; functional impairment related to the injury, and loss of ability to do the old job; or loss of earnings because of the injury. No specific guidelines advise how any factor is to be considered in a particular case. Each industrial disability case must be
decided on its facts. Industrial disability is calculated on a 500-week basis with the percentage rating multiplied by 500 weeks. If the employer offers work at the same or greater wage, an injured employee is only entitled to the functional rating until terminated from employment. The employee can request a
reopening and determination of industrial disability.

Permanent Total Disability (PTD)

If a work-related injury leaves a worker incapable of returning to any type of wage-earning employment, she may be entitled to permanent total disability benefits during that time when she cannot return to any gainful work.

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