Study Finds SB 899 Cut Permanent Disability Benefits 58%

By Greg Jones, Western Bureau ChiefOAKLAND, Calif. -- Changes to California's Permanent Disability Rating Schedule that took effect in 2005 resulted in a 58% reduction in compensation paid to injured workers, according to the results of a study presented Thursday to California's employer-labor workers' compensation advisory and research panel.To restore permanent disability benefits to the level they were at before Senate Bill 899 was enacted, total compensation would need to be increased by about $2.64 billion, according to data provided by the Workers' Compensation Insurance ...