Memorandum
TO: Workers' Compensation Insurance Adjusters, Attorneys and Self-Insureds
FROM: Laura Collins, Director of Workers? Compensation
DATE: January 9, 2003
SUBJECT: Change in Calculating Permanency Benefits; New Form 22
Please be advised that effective immediately, the method for calculating the compensation rate for permanent partial impairment benefits in no lost-time cases has changed.
Pursuant to the decision in Laumann et al. v. State of Vermont et al., 02-03 WC (January 5, 2003), the 'old methodology' is the appropriate method for calculating permanency benefits. Annual adjustments to the permanency compensation rate are only required if payments extend beyond a July 1st date.
The recent methodology of adding annual adjustments to the compensation rate from the date of injury to the date of medical end result should no longer be used.
The Form 22 - Agreement for Permanent Partial or Permanent Total Disability Compensation has been revised in conjunction with this recent decision and is available on the website at http://159.105.83.167/Default.aspx?tabid=170.