An impairment rating is the percentage a doctor gives your lasting loss once you reach maximum medical improvement. In Texas, each point of that rating pays three weeks of benefit checks. If your number looks low, call us now for a free case review.
What is an impairment rating?
Once your doctor says your injury will not get much better, the doctor rates what you lost. That point is called maximum medical improvement, or MMI. California law says a disability becomes permanent when you reach MMI.
The doctor examines the hurt body part and measures lost motion, strength and function. Then the doctor compares the results to a medical guide and gives a percentage.
New York calls this a schedule loss of use. A doctor's report might say you have 25 percent less function in the injured part. That percentage then sets how many weeks of benefits you get.
Your workers comp impairment rating drives the money for a lasting injury. A few points either way can mean weeks of checks gained or lost.
How much an impairment rating pays in Texas
Texas pays three weeks of impairment income benefits for each point of your rating. Each check is 70% of your average weekly wage.
Take Brian, a Texas warehouse worker whose shoulder gets a 10% rating. The math is 10 points times 3 weeks, which equals 30 weeks of checks. Each of those checks is 70% of his average weekly wage.
Other states set their own weeks and weekly limits. Find yours on workers comp by state. The calculator below shows your Texas impairment benefit from your rating.
Can I dispute a low impairment rating?
Yes, and the clock starts fast. Texas gives you 90 days to appeal the first rating after it is issued. Miss that deadline and the low number can stick.
A rating can come in low for plain reasons. The doctor may skip a limit, rush the exam or rate the wrong body part.
- Call us for a free case review.
- Gather your treatment records and notes on what you can no longer do.
- Ask your treating doctor whether they agree with the number.
- Let your attorney file the dispute before the deadline.
Pennsylvania's impairment exam after 104 weeks
Pennsylvania has its own test. After 104 weeks of total disability, the insurer can require a medical exam. That exam checks whether you are at least 35% impaired.
A rating under 35% can move you from total to partial benefits. That shift can change how long your checks last. Read more on how long workers comp lasts and the independent medical exam.
Get a lawyer before you accept the number
The insurer has people checking every point of your rating. Your rating often sits at the core of a workers comp permanent disability claim, and of any settlement offer.
Call now for a free case review. A workers comp attorney who handles cases in your state gets on it right away.
You pay no fee unless you win. The attorney is paid only from money recovered, and state law caps that fee. See what a workers comp lawyer costs.
Questions injured workers ask
What does a 30 impairment rating mean?
It means the doctor found you lost 30% of the use of that body part or of your whole body. In Texas, 30 points times 3 weeks equals 90 weeks of impairment checks.
How much does an impairment rating pay in Texas?
Texas pays three weeks of checks for each point, at 70% of your average weekly wage. A 10% rating pays 30 weeks, because 10 times 3 equals 30.
How is an impairment rating calculated?
A doctor measures lost motion, strength and function, then compares the results to a medical guide. You do not set the number, but an attorney can check whether it is right.
How do I get a higher impairment rating?
You cannot ask the doctor for a number. Call us for a free review, make sure the doctor sees every limit, and bring your treatment records.
Is an impairment rating the same as permanent disability?
Not exactly. The rating measures what your body lost, and states use it to figure workers comp permanent disability pay.
What should I do if my impairment rating seems wrong?
Your first move is a call to us for a free case review. Then gather your records so your attorney can challenge the rating in time.
Reviewed 9/22/2026