Which one of the following types of wage replacement benefits is paid to injured employees who sustain a permanent loss of function and may be unable to return to their usual occupation?

• A. Temporary total disability
• B. Temporary partial disability
• C. Permanent partial disability
• D. Permanent total disability

Answer: (C)

Wage replacement for disability depends on whether the impairment is temporary or permanent and how much earning capacity remains. A permanent partial disability applies when the injury causes a lasting loss of function, but the worker still has some ability to work—often not returning to the usual occupation, but capable of doing other, lighter or different work. That lasting but partial loss is exactly what “permanent partial disability” captures, so it’s paid as a permanent, but not total, reduction in earning capacity.

Temporary total disability would mean complete, though temporary, inability to work. Temporary partial disability is a temporary, partial limitation. Permanent total disability would mean no capacity to work in any occupation. Since the scenario describes a permanent impairment with possible restrictions on returning to the usual job, the correct category is permanent partial disability.