What Effect Does an IRE Have on My Workers’ Comp Benefits in Pennsylvania?

September 16, 2026 | Workers’ Compensation

What Effect Does an IRE Have on My Workers' Comp Benefits in Pennsylvania?

If you’ve been receiving total disability benefits through workers’ compensation in Pennsylvania, there may come a point where the insurance company requests something called an Impairment Rating Evaluation, or IRE. This evaluation can directly affect how long you continue to receive wage loss benefits, which makes it one of the most important steps in the entire workers’ comp process.

Learning about what an IRE is and what happens afterward can help you prepare if and when the time comes. Read on for a breakdown of how this works under current Pennsylvania law.

What Is an IRE?

An IRE is a medical evaluation performed by a designated physician to determine the extent of your work-related impairment. The doctor examines you and reviews your medical records, then assigns a whole-body impairment rating.

Under Act 111, the insurance company or employer can request an IRE once you’ve received 104 weeks (two years) of total disability benefits. You are required to attend the evaluation if it’s requested. The results of this exam can change the status of your benefits going forward.

How Can an IRE Change My Benefits?

The outcome of the IRE comes down to the impairment rating the doctor assigns:

  • If your impairment rating is 35% or higher, your benefits stay at total disability status. Nothing changes.
  • If your impairment rating falls below 35%, your benefits are converted from total disability to partial disability.

This distinction matters because partial disability benefits in Pennsylvania are capped at 500 weeks. Total disability benefits, on the other hand, can continue indefinitely as long as you remain unable to work. So, while the weekly dollar amount you receive doesn’t change after the conversion, the clock starts ticking on how long you can keep collecting.

In addition, it’s important to know that the IRE only affects your wage loss benefits. Your right to receive medical treatment for the work injury is not impacted by the results of the evaluation. Medical benefits continue regardless of whether your status changes from total to partial.

Can I Challenge the Results of an IRE?

Yes. If you believe the impairment rating is inaccurate or that the evaluation was not conducted properly, you have the right to challenge it. This can involve:

  • Obtaining your own medical evaluation from a doctor of your choosing
  • Presenting evidence that the IRE physician did not follow the correct procedures or misapplied the AMA Guides
  • Filing a petition with the Workers’ Compensation Judge to contest the modification of your benefits

These challenges require solid medical evidence and legal knowledge. Working with an attorney who handles Pennsylvania workers’ compensation cases can make a significant difference in whether or not the challenge succeeds.

Contact Marzzacco Niven & Associates To Schedule a Free Consultation With a Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Attorney

An IRE can have a lasting impact on your workers’ comp benefits, but you don’t have to go through the process without legal guidance on your side. If your employer or their insurance company has requested an IRE, or if you’ve already received a rating you believe is unfair, talking to a workers’ comp attorney is a smart next step. 

Call Marzzacco Niven & Associates to schedule a free consultation to learn more about your rights and what legal options are available to you. Our Pennsylvania workers’ compensation lawyers work on contingency, which means you only pay attorney’s fees if you win compensation.

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