Permanent disability benefits
If a worker is rated 100 percent permanently disabled, he will receive two-thirds of his salary for the rest of his life, but not more than $490 a week, which is $25,480 a year.
If a worker is rated less than 100 percent disabled, things get very complicated.
Workers who are rated 1 percent disabled will receive payments for three weeks. Workers who are rated 99.75 percent disabled will get payments for 694.25 weeks, or about 13 years.
The amount of the payment is figured this way: Workers get two-thirds of their average weekly wage, up to a maximum of $140 if they're under 15 percent disabled, $160 if they're under 24.75 percent disabled, $170 if they're under 69.75 percent disabled, and $230 if they're 70 percent disabled or more.
When these payments cease, workers who are more than 70 percent disabled will get a life pension -- for example, someone who is 70 percent disabled with get $2,010 a year for life and someone who is 99.75 percent disabled will get $7,990 a year for life.
Most injured California workers -- six out of 10 -- get a disability rating under 15 percent, according to the California Applicants' Attorneys Association, which represents injured workers.
The most such workers can receive is $140 a week for 49.25 weeks. That's $6,895 over the course of almost a year.
This amount has not been increased since 1983 and is the lowest in the nation.
Adjusted for inflation, that $140 a week established in 1983 is worth $87.64 a week today. Maximum weekly benefits for workers who are 100 percent disabled, 1997
$873 -- Iowa
$781 -- Illinois
$756 -- New Hampshire
$749 -- District of Columbia
$700 -- Alaska
$678 -- Connecticut
$655 -- Vermont
$634 -- Washington
$615 -- Minnesota
$586 -- Massachusetts
$553 -- Maryland
$542 -- Pennsylvania
$533 -- Michigan
$521 -- Ohio
$519 -- Oregon
$513 -- Missouri
$512 -- North Carolina
$509 -- Wisconsin
$503 -- Rhode Island
$501 -- Hawaii
$492 -- Nevada
$491 -- Texas $490 -- California
$480 -- New Jersey
$479 -- Florida
$468 -- Colorado
$466 -- Virginia
$451 -- South Carolina
$447 -- Kentucky
$446 -- Utah
$445 -- West Virginia
$441 -- Maine
$433 -- Wyoming
$428 -- Indiana
$426 -- Oklahoma
$416 -- Tennessee
$409 -- Nebraska
$400 -- New York
$390 -- Idaho
$387 -- North Dakota
$384 -- Montana
$375 -- South Dakota
$364 -- New Mexico
$372 -- Delaware
$349 -- Louisiana
$348 -- Arkansas
$328 -- Arizona
$326 -- Kansas
$275 -- Georgia
$271 -- Mississippi Source: U.S. Chamber of
Commerce
Disability ratings
Here are examples of percentage disability ratings for various injuries (not adjusted for age, occupation) and maximum lump sum payment in California.
Loss of sense of smell: 5 percent, $2,100.
Loss of index finger: 8 percent, $3,360.
Loss of one great toe: 10 percent, $4,235.
Complete loss of hearing in one ear: 15 percent, $8,040.
Shortening one leg 2 inches: 20 percent, $11,280.
Immobility of wrist, 20 percent, $11,280.
Immobility of thumb and index finger: 25 percent, $16,278.
Loss of sight in one eye: 30 percent, $21,420.
Complete loss of grip strength: 40 percent, $33,320.
Moderately impaired function of back: 50 percent, $45,263.
Complete loss of speech: 50 percent, $45,263.
Loss of five fingers: 55 percent, $52,063.
Moderate paralysis on one side of the body: 60 percent, $58,863.
Complete loss of hearing in both ears: 60 percent, $58,863.
Loss of one leg above the knee, prosthesis possible: 65 percent, $65,663.
Loss of hand, use of prosthesis not possible: 70 percent, $98,095. STATE PAYMENTS FOR THE LOSS OF ONE EYE, 1996*
Some states permit this amount to be paid in a lump sum. Others require weekly payments.
Maryland: $138,195
Illinois: $124,987
Iowa: $108,920
Connecticut: $92,473
Hawaii: $80,160
Delaware: $74,446
Ohio: $65,125
New Hampshire: $63,504
South Carolina: $63,087
North Carolina: $61,440
West Virginia: $58,689
South Dakota: $56,250
Nebraska: $53,375
Wisconsin: $47,850
New Jersey: $47,268
Virginia: $46,600
Georgia: $45,000
New Jersey: $44,800 Utah: $42,120
Oregon: $42,000
Tennessee: $38,279
Missouri: $37,621
Arizona: $34,650
Idaho: $32,175
Washington: $30,903
Arkansas: $27,405
Alabama: $27,280
Mississippi: $27,067
Massachusetts: $22,841 California: $21,420
Colorado: $20,850
Rhode Island: $14,400
North Dakota: $2,580
*For states with benefits that can be compared. Some states not included.
Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce
