Each year, the rates of workers' compensation benefits are adjusted. See the New Rate Chart for 2012.
The two (2) most frequent types of compensation an injured worker will receive are temporary total disability compensation and permanent partial disability compensation.
Temporary Total Disability Compensation. The maximum temporary total disability (TTD) rate for 2012 is $809.00. For the first 12 weeks that an injured worker is off work, the injured worker receives 72% of his/her full weekly wage (FWW). In order to receive the $809.00 maximum TTD rate, the injured worker's FWW must be at least $1,123.61. For the 13th week of TTD and beyond, the injured worker receives 66 2/3% of his/her average weekly wage (AWW). In order to receive the $809.00 maximum TTD rate, the injured worker's AWW must be at least $1,213.50.
Permanent Partial Disability Compensation. The maximum permanent partial disability (PPD) award for 2012 is $269.67 per week. In order to receive this rate, the injured worker's AWW must be at least $404.50. The formula for calculating an injured worker's PPD award is as follows: multiply the injured worker's whole person impairment by 2, and then multiply that number by the PPD rate. For example, if an injured worker is awarded a 7% PPD award, then he/she will receive a check in the amount of $3,775.38 (7 x 2 x $269.67).
The date of injury (or date of diagnosis in "occupational disease" claims) determines which rates will apply to the injured worker's claim. Therefore, even though the rates for 2013 will increase, workers injured in 2012 (as well as workers with dates of injuries prior to 2012) are "locked" into receiving the rates that were established for their year of injury for the lifetime of their claims.