Generally, temporary weekly benefits begin to be due to be paid when an injury causes the employee to be disabled from work completely, and permanency benefits begin to be due once the employee returns to actual work, reaches maximum medical improvement, or is released to be able to return to work substantially similar to that being completed at the time of the injury, whichever comes first (for pre-7/1/17 work injuries). For post-7/1/17 work injuries, permanency benefits begin to be due when the employee reaches maximum medical improvement and the extent of impairment can be determined pursuant to the AMA Guides.

If temporary or permanency benefits were previously voluntarily paid, but it was determined additional weekly benefits were owed, then this date would be the date right after those prior benefits paid ended.

For additional information see Iowa Code Sections 85.32, 85.33 and 85.34 here (for pre-7/1/17 injuries) and here (for post-7/1/17 injuries). Also see information provided by the Commissioner here (for pre-7/1/17 injuries) and here (for post-7/1/17 injuries).

Generally, temporary weekly benefits are to end once the employee returns to actual work, reaches maximum medical improvement, or is released to be able to return to work substantially similar to that being completed at the time of the injury.

For additional information see Iowa Code Sections 85.33 and 85.34 here. Also see that information provided by the Commissioner here.

1 day = 0.143 weeks
2 days = 0.286 weeks
3 days = 0.429 weeks
4 days = 0.571 weeks
5 days = 0.714 weeks
6 days = 0.857 weeks

In inputting the body part to which the permanency should be calculated, keep in mind the following:

• If the injury is to a joint connecting separate scheduled body parts, the generally accepted rule is that permanency should be calculated based upon the more proximal scheduled body part that the joint connects. For example, an injury to the ankle would have permanency calculated to the leg, an injury to the wrist would have permanency calculated to the arm, and an injury to the hip would have permanency calculated to the Whole Body/Industrial Disability. See e.g. Prewitt v. Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., 564 N.W.2d 852 (Iowa App. 1997).
• Pre-7/1/17 injuries to the shoulder would have permanency calculated to the Whole Body/Industrial Disability, but for post-7/1/17 injuries, the shoulder is considered its own scheduled member injury. See Iowa Code Section 85.35(2)(On) (2018).
• If the injury is a simultaneous injury to bilateral scheduled members, then the impairment should be entered as Whole Body. See Iowa Code Section 85.34(2)(s) (2018).
• The body part to which the permanency should be calculated is based upon the situs of the disability and not necessarily the situs of the original injury. See e.g. Barton v. Nevada Poultry Co., 110 N.W.2d 660 (Iowa 1961).

In inputting the impairment %, keep in mind the following:

• If inputting a functional impairment rating from a physician, ensure that the rating provided is for the body part being input.
• If the injury is to the arm or leg, the loss of 2/3 or more of an arm or leg between the shoulder/hip and the elbow/knee is considered a 100% impairment. This is dictated by statute and applies regardless of the functional impairment rating issued by a physician. See Iowa Code Sections 85.34(2)(m), (o) (2018).
• If the injury is to a thumb, finger, or toe, the loss of the first phalange is considered a 50% impairment, and the loss of more than one phalange is considered a 100% impairment for that thumb, finger, or toe. This is dictated by statute and applies regardless of the functional impairment rating issued by a physician. See Iowa Code Sections 85.34(2)(f), (g), (j), (k) (2018)

If making a benefits back payment due to a variation in weekly rate, then the amount of the difference between the weekly rate that should have been paid minus the weekly rate that was paid should be entered in here.