Workers in Pennsylvania who suffer the loss of a body part or experience permanent disfigurement due to a work-related injury may now be entitled to significantly higher workers’ compensation payments. This development comes in the wake of a new ruling issued by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in January 2025 that could dramatically improve compensation for many injured workers, particularly those earning lower wages.
This landmark decision overturns several earlier court rulings that dictated how benefits were calculated for low-wage earners pursuing specific loss or disfigurement claims under Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensation system. For many injured workers, this ruling represents a long-overdue step toward greater fairness and financial security after devastating injuries.
What Is a Specific Loss or Disfigurement Claim in Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation?
A specific loss claim in Pennsylvania workers’ compensation can be filed when a worker suffers a permanent injury that results in the loss—or significant loss of use—of a specific body part. Examples of injuries that qualify for specific loss claims include:
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Loss of body parts such as fingers, hands, arms, toes, feet, or legs
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Loss of vision in one or both eyes
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Loss of hearing in one or both ears
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Permanent disfigurement of the head, face, or neck
Unlike traditional wage loss benefits, which are intended to replace lost earnings while a worker recovers from an injury, specific loss benefits are designed to compensate the worker for the permanent and often life-altering impact of losing a body part or sustaining significant disfigurement.
Another crucial difference is that specific loss benefits may be payable even if the injured worker misses little or no time from work. That’s because the compensation is meant to recognize the lasting consequences and potential limitations that come with such a serious injury.
How Are Workers’ Compensation Benefits Calculated in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensation system divides injured workers into different categories based on their earnings, which determines how much they are eligible to receive in weekly compensation benefits:
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High-wage earners are subject to a maximum compensation rate that changes annually.
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Most workers are entitled to receive two-thirds of their average weekly wage, or a minimum set amount that also adjusts each year.
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Lower-wage earners may qualify for 90% of their average weekly wage instead of two-thirds, providing some additional protection for workers on the lower end of the income scale.
Before the Supreme Court’s 2025 ruling, these same wage-earning categories applied to specific loss and disfigurement claims. Unfortunately, this often meant that workers earning lower wages received substantially smaller lump-sum payments than their higher-paid counterparts, even for identical injuries like the loss of a finger, hand, or other body part.
This situation led to widespread criticism of the system’s fairness, as the physical loss or disfigurement suffered by a low-wage worker is just as severe—and often just as life-changing—as the same injury suffered by someone with higher earnings.
The 2025 Supreme Court Decision Changes the Calculation
In a decision welcomed by worker advocates and legal professionals across Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled in January 2025 that payments for specific loss and disfigurement claims must be calculated based on a minimum of one-half of the maximum weekly compensation rate, regardless of the injured worker’s wage level.
This ruling ensures that lower-wage earners receive more equitable compensation for permanent injuries, helping to reduce some of the longstanding disparities in the state’s workers’ compensation system.
Example of the Impact
To illustrate how significant this ruling could be for many Pennsylvania workers, consider a hypothetical example:
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A worker earns $10 per hour, working a standard 40-hour week, resulting in a weekly wage of $400.
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If this worker suffers the loss of their thumb in a work-related accident:
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Before the Supreme Court decision, their total specific loss compensation would have been around $36,000.
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After the Supreme Court decision, the same worker would now receive approximately $66,250 — nearly double the previous amount.
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This difference is life-changing for many workers who are already living paycheck to paycheck. It provides greater financial security and acknowledges the significant impact of permanent injuries, even for those who earn lower wages.
A Step Toward Fairness for Low-Wage Workers
The Supreme Court’s ruling is a critical step forward in addressing longstanding inequities in Pennsylvania workers’ compensation law. Previously, workers earning lower wages were unfairly penalized by receiving significantly less compensation for identical injuries compared to higher earners.
Although higher earners will still receive larger total payments due to higher wage bases, this ruling helps level the playing field. As of 2025, any Pennsylvania worker earning less than $748.32 per week will see significantly increased benefits if they suffer a specific loss or disfigurement injury on the job.
This decision helps protect vulnerable workers and reflects a growing recognition that the consequences of a permanent injury are devastating regardless of income.
Get Help Understanding Your Rights
If you have questions about your eligibility for increased workers’ compensation benefits under this new ruling, or if you’ve experienced a permanent injury at work, it’s wise to speak with an experienced Pennsylvania workers’ compensation attorney.
At YCL Law, we’ve been fighting for injured Pennsylvania workers for decades. We can review your case quickly and help you understand your rights.
A call to YCL Law won’t cost you anything — but assuming your employer or insurance carrier knows the law could cost you thousands.