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Disability Evaluation Unit

The Disability Evaluation Unit (DEU) determines permanent disability ratings by evaluating medical descriptions of physical and mental impairment. The determinations are used by workers' compensation administrative law judges, injured workers and insurance claims administrators to determine permanent disability benefits. The DEU prepares three types of ratings:

  • Formal, done at the request of a workers' compensation judge
  • Consultative, done on litigated cases at the request of an attorney or DWC information and assistance officer
  • Summary, done on non-litigated cases at the request of a claims administrator or injured worker

Disability Rating Determinations describe your percentage of disability. This percentage is based on a physician report and on the type of work you were doing at the time of your injury. If the rating indicates that you have some permanent disability, you should receive permanent disability payments, less any permanent disability payments made to you prior to the rating.

For questions about the status of a request for summary rating determination, please contact your local DEU office liSted below.

Resources

Workers' compensation benefits - Overview of benefits, including currents rates, available for injured workers.

ZIP code locator tool will help you locate the DEU office serving your ZIP code
A printable list of DEU ZIP codes in California, with the corresponding district office for filing most forms - version version

Permanent disability rating schedule

  • Permanent disability rating schedule - 2005 Adobe Acrobat image icon version
    This schedule is effective for dates of injury on or after Jan. 1, 2005. This schedule will also be used to rate permanent disability in injuries that occurred before Jan. 1, 2005 when there has been either no comprehensive medical-legal report, or no report by a treating physician indicating the exiStence of permanent disability, or when the employer is not required to provide a notice to the injured worker under Labor Code section 4061.

Answers to practitioners' questions about applying the permanent disability rating schedule

Medical report reference materials Adobe Acrobat image icon version - for cases rated under the 1997 or earlier rating schedules

DEU forms

Disability Evaluation Unit forms

Commutation templates and instructions .zip file
Templates and instructions to facilitate the calculation of life pension and permanent disability benefit commutations. When properly used, the templates assure that calculations are done in accordance with commutation calculation methods and tables that went into effect Jan. 17, 2001. The regulations and tables can be found in section 10169 and 10169.1 of Title 8, California Code of Regulations.

Commutation request excel image
This form can be submitted by the parties to the DEU to request a commutation. This form is recommended as it provides the necessary information to calculate a commutation.

Directory of DEU offices

Anaheim
1065 N PacifiCenter Dr
Anaheim, CA 92806-2141
(714) 414-1803
Oxnard
1901 N Rice Ave
Ste 200
Oxnard, CA 93030-7912
(805) 485-4423
San Francisco
455 Golden Gate Ave
2nd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94102-7014
(415) 703-5030
Bakersfield
1800 30th St
Ste 100
Bakersfield, CA 93301-1929
(661) 395-2723
Pomona
732 Corporate Center Dr
Pomona, CA 91768-2653
(909) 629-6288
San Jose
100 Paseo de San Antonio
Room 223
San Jose, CA 95113-1402
(408) 277-2024
Eureka
* Satellite office
Ratings to be sent to
Redding
Redding
250 Hemsted Dr
2nd Floor, Ste B
Redding, CA 96002- 9040
(530) 225-3179
San Luis Obispo
4740 Allene Way
Ste 100
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-8736
(805) 596-4157
Fresno
2550 Mariposa Mall
Room 5005
Fresno, CA 93721-2280
(559) 445-6427
Riverside
3737 Main St
3rd Floor
Riverside, CA 92501-3337
(951) 782-4345
Santa Ana
605 W Santa Ana Blvd
Bldg 28, Room 451
Santa Ana, CA 92701-4070
(714) 558-4113 ext. 6749
Long Beach
300 Oceangate St
Room 325
Long Beach, CA 90802-4460
(562) 590-5017
Sacramento
160 Promenade Cir
Ste 300
Sacramento, CA 95834-2962
(916) 928-3150
Santa Barbara
* Satellite office
Ratings to be sent to
Oxnard
Los Angeles
320 W 4th St
9th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90013-1954
(213) 576-7426
Salinas
1880 N Main St
Ste 100
Salinas, CA 93906-2204
(831) 443-3222
Santa Rosa
50 "D" St
Ste 420
Santa Rosa, CA 95404-2037
(707) 576-2374
Marina del Rey
4720 Lincoln Blvd
2nd Floor
Marina del Rey, CA 90292-6902
(310) 482-386
8
San Bernardino
464 W 4th St
Ste 260
San Bernardino, CA 92401-1411
(909) 383-4522
Stockton
31 E Channel St
Room 417
Stockton, CA 95202-2314
(209) 948-3651
Oakland
1515 Clay St
6th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612-1519
(510) 622-2859
San Diego
7575 Metropolitan Dr
Ste 202
San Diego, CA 92108-4424
(619) 767-2081
Van Nuys
6150 Van Nuys Blvd
Room 200
Van Nuys, CA 91401-3370
(818) 901-5367

May 2016