What is PDA?

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Permanent Disability Advances in California Workers’ Compensation Claims

What Is a Permanent Disability Advance?

Many injured workers have questions about permanent disability advances during a workers’ compensation case.

A permanent disability advance, or PDA, provides part of your future permanent disability benefits in one lump-sum payment. A PDA is different from permanent partial disability, also called PPD.

Your doctor may decide that your medical condition has improved as much as expected. Doctors call this maximum medical improvement, or MMI. They may also call it permanent and stationary status, or P&S.

The evaluating doctor will then look for any lasting impairment from your injury. The parties use that medical report to help determine your permanent disability rating.

Sometimes, the parties disagree about the amount of permanent disability. In that situation, the facts and status of your case may affect whether you can receive an advance.

The following definitions explain common permanent disability terms.

Permanent Disability Terms

Permanent and stationary (P&S): Doctors use this term when your medical condition has improved as much as expected. At this stage, a doctor can evaluate whether your work injury caused a permanent disability.

Permanent disability (PD): This is a lasting disability caused by a work injury. It may affect the work you can perform or your ability to earn a living.

Permanent disability rating (PDR): This percentage shows the extent of your permanent disability. The rating may depend on your medical condition, injury date, age, occupation, and other factors.

Permanent disability rating schedule (PDRS): The California Division of Workers’ Compensation publishes this schedule. It explains how to rate permanent disabilities. Your injury date and other factors determine which schedule applies.

Permanent disability benefits: An injured worker may receive these payments when a work injury causes permanent limitations. Those limitations may affect the worker’s job duties or ability to earn a living.

Permanent disability advance (PDA): This voluntary payment provides some future permanent disability benefits as a lump sum.

Permanent disability payments: The insurance company or claims administrator pays the undisputed portion of permanent disability. These payments generally arrive every two weeks. The timing may depend on the facts of the claim.

Permanent partial disability award: A workers’ compensation judge or the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board issues this final award for permanent partial disability.

Permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits: These payments apply when a work injury partially limits your ability to work or earn a living.

Permanent total disability (PTD) benefits: These payments may apply when a work injury permanently prevents you from earning a living.

Every workers’ compensation claim is different. Contact our office for a free consultation about permanent disability benefits or a possible permanent disability advance.