PDRater – PD calculators

Don't calculate COLA's the hard way!

I’m happy to announce the single most-requested service for this website – a COLA SAWW commutation reports. [1] This calculator provides professional quality PDF’s using the same familiar format as the Disability Evaluation Unit.  Now you don’t have to wait for the DEU and you don’t have to tip your hand to the opposing side about what you think the case might be worth.

Download a sample report right now to see the kind of detailed commutation reports that get cases resolved.  These COLA commutation reports are delivered instantly to your e-mail.  You can customize the report with everything you want – from a State Average Weekly Wage increase percentage of your choosing, to attorney fee percentage, and whether a Labor Code Section 4658(d) increase is applicable.

And, best of all, when you purchase one of these reports for $197.00 ($147.00 for PDRater sponsored users!) it comes with unlimited FREE additional reports on the same case.  (Don’t worry – it doesn’t cost anything to play with the calculator). Whether you need to change the permanent disability rate, SAWW increase percentage, or just want a fresh report with a new commutation date – every single report on the same case will be delivered to you instantly and for free.

Here’s an example of how quickly you can a COLA SAWW commutation report on your case right now:

1. Photo courtesy of Alan Cleaver via Compfight [↩]

Where did this SAWW come from anyhow?

Even with the recent Baker v. WCAB decision settling when the increase in state average weekly wage (SAWW) is applied, litigation continues over the precise future SAWW percentage to use in a commutation of life pension benefits. The DEU is currently using an assumed annual SAWW increase of 4.6% “based on a 50 year average.” [1]

Before we consider how the DEU calculates future SAWW increases, it is necessary to look back to past SAWW changes.  In the last 50 years there have been only two instances where the SAWW has decreased from the prior year.  Since Labor Code Sections 4659(c) and 4453(a)(10) only apply increases in the SAWW to life pensions and permanent total disability benefits, there is no effect on the benefit rates for those two years.

When the DEU indicates a historical 50-year average of SAWW increases, they mean exactly that.  Thus, instead of averaging the decreases in the SAWW with the increases, the DEU averages only the increases of the historical SAWW data.  (I’ll save you the trouble of looking it up – 2004 and 2011 are the only instances in the last 50 years of any reduction in the state average weekly wage).  An average of just the SAWW increases over the last 50 years does come to 4.6%.

If you’re interested in verifying this information for yourself, I’ve prepared a list of the data used by the DEU in computing the 50-year average of SAWW increases.

1. Andrea Marutti via Compfight [↩]

A new kind of COLA

I’m getting ready to launch a new workers’ compensation calculator and I could use your help. [1] I still need a few volunteers to help me test a permanent disability, life pension, and total permanent disability COLA commutation calculator.  Right now I need a few applicant attorneys, defense attorneys, and claims examiners.

Here’s what you need:

• Any free or paid PDRater account
• A familiarity with DEU COLA commutations
• A familiarity with recent Baker decision
• A willingness to answer a few questions

If this sounds like something you would be interested in helping with, please send me an e-mail!

1. Photo Credit: Davide Reppucci via Compfight [↩]

Let's see... "TAX+" or "TAX-"

Here’s a pro-tip for you Applicant attorneys.  Some insurance companies and TPA’s are actually unable to issue payments to entities unless they have their Tax ID number.  Making it easy for defendants to issue payment means you’ll get paid sooner.[1]

Here are the top three ways to get paid sooner:

• Put your Tax ID number on the settlement documents
• Put your Tax ID number on your website
• Make sure your receptionist has your Tax ID number ready to give out
• Put your Tax ID number in your automated voice mail message

1. Photo courtesy of Phillip [↩]

Look up! Dates!

A few weeks ago I e-mailed an Applicant attorney friend of mine[1] and got back a one word response.  I jokingly chided him for being so chatty.  His response was thus:

No new blog = minimal response

Well, for Z and everyone else out there, here’s a new blog post![2]  Over the weekend I updated several aspects of the website. [3]  Here’s a short summary:

1. Updated MPN / Medical Provider Lists.  I’ve added a lot more MPN names, links, and passwords.  If you have some new ones, please send them over.  I’ve also improved the link structure to help prevent broken links.
2. Updated workers’ compensation calculators.  I’ve added a few small features that should make the calculators work a little better.
3. Improved site speed.  I’ve added a little extra website-internet-magic-mojo that should improve the entire site’s performance.
4. Something new!  I’m working on a brand new calculator.  If you like playing with calculators, kicking-tires, and dishing out criticism, drop me a line and ask to be a beta tester.
5. Finally, if you see any weirdness over the next few days, please drop me a line and let me know so I can take care of it!

But, enough about me!  How are you?

1. I’ll call him “Z.” [↩]
2. There are two kinds of blog posts I really hate to read.  Blog posts that apologize for infrequent posting and blog posts that talk about the frequency of blog posts. [↩]
3. Photo courtesy of Agent Smith [↩]