What initiates the payment of Non-Awarded Partial Disability benefits?

The payment of Non-Awarded Partial Disability benefits is initiated by evidence of permanent disability resulting from a work-related injury. This evidence must demonstrate that the injury has left the claimant with a permanent impairment that affects their ability to work or perform daily activities. This is crucial because such a determination impacts the severity and degree of benefits that the claimant may receive.

In this context, permanent disability not only affects the individual's quality of life but also serves as the basis for the benefits structure within West Virginia’s Workers' Compensation system. It ensures that individuals who experience lasting impairments are compensated appropriately for their reduced functional capacity or diminished ability to earn an income due to their work-related injury.

The other options, while potentially relevant in different contexts, do not directly initiate the Non-Awarded Partial Disability benefits. For example, initial injury documentation is typically part of the claim submission process but does not by itself signify an ongoing inability to work due to permanent impairments. The claimant's income level, while relevant for certain aspects of benefit calculations, is not a trigger for benefit initiation. Lastly, the availability of work can be a consideration for vocational rehabilitation but does not specifically relate to the initiation of Non-Awarded Partial Disability benefits, which focus on the established evidence