The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry has released the new state wide average weekly wage chart for 2016. Here are the 2016 workers compensation rates for wage loss benefits.
| YOUR WAGES (PER WEEK)
Average Weekly Wage |
COMPENSATION RATE
Amount You Will Receive |
| $1468.00 and Above | $978.00 (Maximum Rate) |
| $733.51 to $1467.00 | 2/3 of AWW |
| $543.33 to $733.50 | $489.00 |
| $542.32 or Less | 90% of AWW |
In workers compensation, your Average Weekly Wage is calculated based on your earnings prior to the injury. It is critical that your wages are calculated correctly. A small error, such as, the insurance carrier not including bonuses or overtime, can greatly effect your wage loss benefits. Let’s provide an example. You get hurt at work in 2016 and your wages were calculated to be $450.00 per week (average weekly wage – AWW). That would provide a compensation rate of 90% which would make your compensation rate $405.00. That is what your weekly check would be. Now, say that you settle your claim for three years of disability. That would provide you a settlement of $63,180.00. But, what if your average weekly wage was not calculated correctly because of missed over time or bonuses. What if your AWW should have been $40 more per week, at $490.00 per week (AWW). Then your corresponding rate would be $441.00 per week instead of $405.00. What does that mean in terms of a potential settlement? Well, three years at $441 would be $68,796.00. That is $5,616.00 more due to a $40 error in your AWW calculation. That is why ensuring your AWW is calculated correctly is absolutely critical to your workers compensation case.
To avoid these type of problems, the best thing to do when you are injured at work is contact an experienced workers compensation attorney immediately when you are injured. Even if you have an accepted injury and are getting paid, we won’t turn you away. We will monitor your case to make sure your are getting paid correctly and ensure that your insurance carrier continues to do what it is required to under the Workers Compensation Act. Your rights are simply to valuable to trust what the insurance carrier is telling you. Who’s interest do you think they are protecting, yours or theirs?
What does it cost for a consultation with Mooney & Associates? NOTHING! We offer FREE consultation on all Workers Compensation and Social Security Disability cases. We offer twelve convenient offices through South Central Pennsylvania, including Chambersburg, Shippensburg, Carlisle, Harrisburg, Gettysburg, York, and Hanover. Call today at 717-200-HURT! We also offer discounted fee agreement rates to Veterans!
