66   Entitlement to compensation for permanent impairment

(1)  A worker who receives an injury that results in a degree of permanent impairment greater than 10% is entitled to receive from the worker’s employer compensation for that permanent impairment as provided by this section. Permanent impairment compensation is in addition to any other compensation under this Act.

Note. No permanent impairment compensation is payable for a degree of permanent impairment of 10% or less.

(1A)  Only one claim can be made under this Act for permanent impairment compensation in respect of the permanent impairment that results from an injury.

(2)  The amount of permanent impairment compensation is to be calculated as follows:

(a)  (Repealed)

(b)  if the degree of permanent impairment is greater than 10% but not greater than 20%, the amount of permanent impairment compensation is to be calculated as follows:

(c)  if the degree of permanent impairment is greater than 20% but not greater than 40%, the amount of permanent impairment compensation is to be calculated as follows:

(d)  if the degree of permanent impairment is greater than 40% but not greater than 75%, the amount of permanent impairment compensation is to be calculated as follows:

(e)  if the degree of permanent impairment is greater than 75%, the amount of permanent impairment compensation is $220,000,

      where D is the number derived by expressing the degree of permanent impairment as D%.

(2A)  To the extent to which the injury results in permanent impairment of the back, the amount of permanent impairment compensation calculated in accordance with subsection (2) is to be increased by 5%.

Example 1. A person suffers 12% permanent impairment. Under subsection (2), the amount of permanent impairment compensation to which he or she is entitled is $17,050 ($13,750 + [2 × $1,650]). If the whole of the impairment is to the back, the compensation payable in relation to the back will be the whole $17,050. Under this subsection, that $17,050 will be increased by 5%, yielding $17,902.50.

Example 2. A person suffers 50% permanent impairment. Under subsection (2), the amount of permanent impairment compensation to which he or she is entitled is $123,750 ($85,250 + (10 × $3,850)). If two-thirds of the impairment is to the back, the compensation payable in relation to the back will be two-thirds of $123,750, or $82,500. Under this subsection, that $82,500 will be increased by 5%, yielding $86,625. The total compensation payable for the impairment will therefore be $127,875.

(3)  The amount of permanent impairment compensation is to be calculated under this section as it was in force at the date the injury was received.