Workers Compensation Terms and Definitions

Commutation An order by a Workers' Compensation Administrative Law Judge for a lump sum payment of part or all of your permanent disability award. Payment can be made to either the injured worker or the injured worker's attorney. Consultative Rating A rating of permanent disability provided by the DWC Disability Evaluation Unit when a claim is litigated or if the injured worker has an attorney. See Permanent Disability Rating. Vocational Rehabilitation This benefit assists qualified injured workers in returning to work. Wage Loss Temporary disability benefits that may be paid when an employee returns to work at less than full earnings. Also known as Temporary Partial Disability (TPD). Summary Rating Reconsideration An administrative procedure to object to the Summary Permanent Disability Rating issued by the DWC Disability Evaluation Unit. The request must be made within 30 days of receipt of the summary rating. Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) The judicial unit that formally resolves workers' compensation disputes. Application for Adjudication of Claim (Application or App) Filing this form establishes a case before the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB). A WCAB case number will be assigned. Permanent Disability (PD) Any residual disability that impairs your ability to compete in the open labor market after you become permanent and stationary. Apportionment A way of figuring out how much of your permanent disability is due to your industrial injury and how much is due to other disabilities. Compromise and Release (C&R) Generally, a final settlement of your workers' compensation case where the parties agree on a single lump sum payment. It usually settles all outstanding issues except for future vocational rehabilitation.

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	Did You Know?
	FECA protects three million Federal workers A COST-EFFECTIVE SELF-INSURANCE SYSTEM FECA protects three million Federal workers from economic hardship due to work injury and illness. Included among the executive, legislative and judicial branch employees covered by FECA are civilian Defense workers, medical workers in Veterans' hospitals, and the 800,000 workers of the Postal Service, the country's largest civilian employer.