External
Whether the impairment is stable is used in two ways in the Permanent Impairment Calculator:
- If a permanent impairment covered by the 1988 Act is not yet stable, but is at least 10% WPI, the client is entitled to request an interim payment of compensation under s 25 of the Act. The Calculator will automatically calculate any entitlement as an interim payment under s 25 if there is an impairment which is not yet stable but is otherwise eligible for payment. A request for a final payment under s 24 may be made at a later date when the impairment has fully stabilised.
- If an impairment is covered by the 1930 Act or the 1971 Act, the rate of a payment for loss of efficient use (LOEU) under the applicable Table is determined by the nature of the impairment and by the date when the impairment became stable. The rates in the Tables of Maims under the 1971 Act and the 1930 Act were increased on many occasions to keep up with inflation. As a matter of policy, Defence uses the date an impairment became stable as the relevant date for choosing which set of rates are to be applied in a calculation. If a 1930 or 1971 impairment does not stabilise, no compensation is payable. If a 1930 or 1971 impairment stabilises after the commencement of the 1988 Act, the rate used is deemed to be that which applied as at 30 November 1988.