NRS616C.495. Permanent partial disability: Payments in lump sum.

      1.  Except as otherwise provided in NRS 616C.380, an award for a permanent partial disability may be paid in a lump sum under the following conditions:

      (a) A claimant injured on or after July 1, 1973, and before July 1, 1981, who incurs a disability that does not exceed 12 percent may elect to receive his or her compensation in a lump sum. A claimant injured on or after July 1, 1981, and before July 1, 1995, who incurs a disability that does not exceed 25 percent may elect to receive his or her compensation in a lump sum.

      (b) The spouse, or in the absence of a spouse, any dependent child of a deceased claimant injured on or after July 1, 1973, who is not entitled to compensation in accordance with NRS 616C.505, is entitled to a lump sum equal to the present value of the deceased claimant’s undisbursed award for a permanent partial disability.

      (c) Any claimant injured on or after July 1, 1981, and before July 1, 1995, who incurs a disability that exceeds 25 percent may elect to receive his or her compensation in a lump sum equal to the present value of an award for a disability of 25 percent. If the claimant elects to receive compensation pursuant to this paragraph, the insurer shall pay in installments to the claimant that portion of the claimant’s disability in excess of 25 percent.

      (d) Any claimant injured on or after July 1, 1995, may elect to receive his or her compensation in a lump sum in accordance with regulations adopted by the Administrator and approved by the Governor. The Administrator shall adopt regulations for determining the eligibility of such a claimant to receive all or any portion of his or her compensation in a lump sum. Such regulations may include the manner in which an award for a permanent partial disability may be paid to such a claimant in installments. Notwithstanding the provisions of NRS 233B.070, any regulation adopted pursuant to this paragraph does not become effective unless it is first approved by the Governor.

      2.  If the claimant elects to receive his or her payment for a permanent partial disability in a lump sum pursuant to subsection 1, all of the claimant’s benefits for compensation terminate. The claimant’s acceptance of that payment constitutes a final settlement of all factual and legal issues in the case. By so accepting the claimant waives all of his or her rights regarding the claim, including the right to appeal from the closure of the case or the percentage of his or her disability, except:

      (a) The right of the claimant to:

             (1) Reopen his or her claim in accordance with the provisions of NRS 616C.390; or

             (2) Have his or her claim considered by his or her insurer pursuant to NRS 616C.392;

      (b) Any counseling, training or other rehabilitative services provided by the insurer; and

      (c) The right of the claimant to receive a benefit penalty in accordance with NRS 616D.120.

Ê The claimant, when he or she demands payment in a lump sum, must be provided with a written notice which prominently displays a statement describing the effects of accepting payment in a lump sum of an entire permanent partial disability award, any portion of such an award or any uncontested portion of such an award, and that the claimant has 20 days after the mailing or personal delivery of the notice within which to retract or reaffirm the demand, before payment may be made and the claimant’s election becomes final.

      3.  Any lump-sum payment which has been paid on a claim incurred on or after July 1, 1973, must be supplemented if necessary to conform to the provisions of this section.

      4.  Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the total lump-sum payment for disablement must not be less than one-half the product of the average monthly wage multiplied by the percentage of disability. If the claimant received compensation in installment payments for his or her permanent partial disability before electing to receive payment for that disability in a lump sum, the lump-sum payment must be calculated for the remaining payment of compensation.

      5.  The lump sum payable must be equal to the present value of the compensation awarded, less any advance payment or lump sum previously paid. The present value must be calculated using monthly payments in the amounts prescribed in subsection 7 of NRS 616C.490 and actuarial annuity tables adopted by the Division. The tables must be reviewed annually by a consulting actuary.

      6.  If a claimant would receive more money by electing to receive compensation in a lump sum than the claimant would if he or she receives installment payments, the claimant may elect to receive the lump-sum payment.

      (Added to NRS by 1983, 430; A 1983, 646, 1296; 1987, 1465; 1989, 687, 1162, 2001, 2002; 1991, 493, 2425; 1993, 749, 1872; 1995, 579, 2157; 2001, 1899; 2003, 1675; 2005, 1493; 2007, 3357)