The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry has released it’s 2018 average weekly wage rates. Your average weekly wage determines your corresponding compensation rate, the rate your would be paid each week if you were out of work for your work injury. I recently published an article on our official Blog at Mooney & Associates. You can see the blog post here for the new rates.
Ensuring your average weekly wage rate is calculated properly is critical to your case. Here is why.
It is absolutely critical that your wages are calculated correctly. A small error in calculating your average weekly wage can have a significant financial impact in your case. For instance, let’s assume an individual gets hurt at work in 2018 and his wages are calculated to be $500.00 per week (AWW). That would provide a weekly disability compensation rate of 90% of $500.00 per week, which would make the compensation rate to be $450.00 per week. If your employer accepted your work injury, that is what you would receive per week while out of work. Now, say that you settle your claim for two years of disability. That would provide you a settlement of $46,800.00. Now, let’s assume that your AWW was calculated incorrectly, the insurance carrier had wrong wage information or forgot bonuses. Let’s assume then your AWW should have been $550.00 per week, instead of $500.00 per week. At $550.00 per week, your weekly disability rate would be $495.00 per week, instead of $450.00 per week. A two year settlement at $495.00 per week would be $51.480.00. When you settle your case, that is a $4,680.00 mistake. A correct calculation would be an additional $4680.00 in your pocket. Think about that. That is only a $40.00 per week mistake. That is why ensuring your AWW is calculated correctly is absolutely critical to you.
This is just another example of why treading through a workers compensation case on your own is a dangerous venture. Getting expert advice will ensure your wage are calculated correctly, that you do not sign forms from the insurance carrier that you should not sign, that you get the medical treatment you need, and that you get the benefits the Act provides and that you deserve. Insurance companies have their defense counsel reviewing your case, shouldn’t you be protected on your end? Call Mooney & Associates today at 717-200-HELP or toll free at 1-877-632-4656 for a FREE CONSULTATION.
