[Legal Dictionary] Definition of Permanent Total Disability

Permanent total disability, or PTD, refers to an employee’s benefit if he or she is permanently and totally disabled from working. Under New York law, the employer’s worker’s compensation insurance pays this benefit.

In most cases, the benefit is paid only if the worker is unable to work at the previous job or any occupation for which he or she is suited by education, experience or training. Collecting a PTD settlement or payments does not preclude an accident victim from filing a personal injury lawsuit. If another person’s negligence caused the worker’s permanent total disability, he or she may seek legal action regardless of any worker’s compensation benefits the injured person may be eligible for.