Historically, the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act restricted the eligibility for permanent scarring and disfigurement benefits to workers who sustained such injuries specifically on their head, face, or neck above the clavicle. The Act allowed permanently scarred or disfigured employees to claim benefits for a maximum duration of 275 weeks. However, earlier this year, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives ushered in new legislation that provided significant expansion to those able to seek scarring or disfigurement benefits. Under House Bill 930, employees injured during the course of employment, and suffering permanent scarring or disfigurement to any part of their body, may be entitled to receive such benefits. Moreover, the House extended the maximum duration of benefits to allow those eligible to receive up to 400 weeks of benefits. House Bill 930 will now proceed to the Pennsylvania Senate for a vote.
