Permanent disability is a term differently defined depending on who is defining it and purpose in claiming it. People may claim this disability as result of illness or when someone has purposefully or accidentally injured them. They might use the term to receive benefits from their country, to qualify for things like educational grants, or to claim rights to collect life/disability insurance payments from a private insurer. Difficulty in fully defining this concept arises from the fact that any of these sources might have varying ideas on what constitutes disability.
Implied in the term, permanent disability usually means a person will not be able to recover ability to work at a previous level. Some regions want proof that the condition has lasted for some time already or is likely to last for a certain period of time, and perhaps indefinitely. When the disability is not permanent, it still might be established that it will last for a sufficient period, such as a year or more, so that economic circumstances are deeply impacted.
Some permanent disability types appear to be readily accepted, such as loss of a major limb. A number of insurance/disability plans have convenient tables for computing exactly how much money a person is entitled to for losing limbs or digits. In these instances it doesn’t necessarily matter if the person’s job is not impacted by limb or digit loss, because the body part is not recoverable. Fortunately, with good physical therapy, limb/digit loss doesn’t always affect work.
It may be more difficult to prove other types of permanent disability. Mental disorders can fall into this category, and chronic illnesses could also result in challenges. Having a good doctor who possesses strong skills in paperwork is often of great importance in proving a permanent disability of any type, but people may need to self-advocate, too, in any of the venues where they expect any form of economic recovery.
The permanent disability that is eventually cured is important to consider. Those receiving things like government support or public scholarships may need to mention this fact to such sources. It’s possible that economic support could end if a determination is made that a person is no longer disabled. Of course, when this situation occurs, it is also hoped that freedom from the disability allows people to seek their own resources and more fully participate in providing for themselves. Sometimes governments have programs to help people make the transition from disability support to self-support.
