In this guide
Workers’ comp settlement chart: weeks by body part
Weeks of benefits for the total loss, or total loss of use, of each body part. A partial loss pays the same share of the weeks.
| Body part | New York | Illinois | Georgia | North Carolina | Michigan | Ohio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arm | 312 | 253 | 225 | 240 | 269 | 225 |
| Leg | 288 | 215 | 225 | 200 | 215 | 200 |
| Hand | 244 | 205 | 160 | 200 | 215 | 175 |
| Foot | 205 | 167 | 135 | 144 | 162 | 150 |
| Eye (sight) | 160 | 162 | 150 | 120 | 162 | 125 |
| Thumb | 75 | 76 | 60 | 75 | 65 | 60 |
| Index finger | 46 | 43 | 40 | 45 | 38 | 35 |
| Great toe | 38 | 38 | 30 | 35 | 33 | 30 |
| Hearing, both ears | 150 | 215 | 150 | 150 | — | 125 |
| Hearing, one ear | 60 | 54 | 75 | 70 | — | 25 |
| Weekly rate | 66.7% | 60% | 66.7% | 66.7% | 80% | State avg. wage |
Sources: New York WCL § 15(3); Illinois 820 ILCS 305/8(b)(2.1), (e); Georgia O.C.G.A. § 34-9-263; North Carolina G.S. 97-31; Michigan MCL 418.361(2); Ohio R.C. 4123.57(B). Illinois figures are for injuries on or after February 1, 2006; amputation above the elbow or knee, or of an eye, adds weeks there. Michigan’s rate is 80% of the after-tax wage, and its schedule lists no hearing loss. “—” means the schedule doesn’t list it. Weekly maximums aren’t shown because they change every year.
How a scheduled award is calculated
- Reach maximum medical improvement. The schedule applies to the permanent part of the injury, once treatment can’t improve it further.
- Get a loss-of-use percentage. A doctor rates how much use of the body part is permanently lost; the insurer may get its own rating, and the comp board or a judge resolves disputes.
- Multiply. Weeks for the body part × the percentage × your weekly rate.
- Apply the cap. If your weekly rate is above the state maximum for your injury date, the maximum is used instead.
The same injury in five states
An illustrative 25% loss of use of a hand, with a $1,000 average weekly wage, before any weekly cap:
| State | Weeks | Weekly rate | Scheduled award |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 61 | $667 | $40,667 |
| Illinois | 51.25 | $600 | $30,750 |
| Georgia | 40 | $667 | $26,667 |
| North Carolina | 50 | $667 | $33,333 |
| Michigan | 53.75 | $800* | $43,000 |
* Michigan’s rate is 80% of the after-tax wage, so enter your after-tax weekly pay in the calculator for a real figure. Ohio isn’t shown: it pays scheduled losses at the statewide average weekly wage, a figure set each year.
Florida and Texas: paid by impairment rating
These states don’t use a body-part chart for permanent impairment. A doctor assigns a whole-body impairment rating once you reach maximum medical improvement, and the rating sets the number of weeks:
- Texas: 3 weeks for each percentage point, at 70% of your average weekly wage (Labor Code §§ 408.121, 408.126). A 10% rating is 30 weeks — $21,000 at a $1,000 wage, before the cap.
- Florida: 2 weeks per point up to 10%, 3 weeks per point from 11% to 15%, 4 from 16% to 20% and 6 above 20%, paid at 75% of the temporary total disability rate — itself 66⅔% of your wage — and halved for weeks you earn at least your old wage (Stat. § 440.15). A 10% rating is 20 weeks — $10,000 at the same wage.
From the chart to a settlement
The scheduled award is what the law pays for the permanent injury itself. A lump-sum settlement is a negotiated deal that often closes out future medical care and other benefits too, so it can come in above or below the chart figure. See when workers’ comp offers a settlement for the stages and the approval step, and the take-home calculator for what’s left after attorney fees.
Frequently asked questions
What is a workers’ comp settlement chart?
It’s the schedule in a state’s workers’ comp law that sets how many weeks of benefits a permanent injury to a body part is worth — for example, 244 weeks for the loss of a hand in New York. A partial loss pays that share of the weeks. The weeks times your weekly rate is the scheduled award.
How much is a hand, arm or leg worth in workers’ comp?
It depends on the state. For the total loss of an arm, the schedules in the states we checked range from 225 to 312 weeks; for a leg, 200 to 288 weeks; for a hand, 160 to 244 weeks. Multiply by your weekly rate — usually two-thirds of your average weekly wage — and the share of the loss.
Is the settlement chart the same as my settlement?
No. The chart gives the scheduled award for a permanent injury. A lump-sum settlement is negotiated and can include or replace future medical care and other benefits, so it can be more or less than the chart figure. It usually needs approval from the state comp board or a judge.
Does every state use a body-part chart?
No. Florida and Texas pay permanent impairment by a doctor’s whole-body impairment rating instead: Texas pays 3 weeks for each percentage point, and Florida pays 2 to 6 weeks per point depending on the rating. Ohio pays scheduled losses at the statewide average weekly wage rather than a share of your own wage.
Is a workers’ comp settlement taxable?
Federal law excludes amounts received under a workers’ compensation act for personal injuries or sickness from income (26 U.S.C. § 104(a)(1)), so workers’ comp benefits are generally not taxable.
Reviewed by
Morgan Hale, Editor. Writes about the financial side of injury claims — fees, liens, timelines and state rules — and checks every page against its sources before it’s published. Not a lawyer; “Morgan Hale” is a pen name. Editorial policy · How we calculate
Sources
- N.Y. Workers’ Compensation Law § 15(3) — Schedule of permanent partial disability; 66⅔% of average weekly wages (New York State Senate)
- 820 ILCS 305/8 — Compensation: schedule of weeks in paragraph (e) (injuries on or after Feb. 1, 2006); 60% rate (FindLaw (Illinois Compiled Statutes))
- O.C.G.A. § 34-9-263 — Permanent partial disability: weeks by body part; two-thirds of average weekly wage (FindLaw (Georgia Code))
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-31 — Schedule of injuries, rate and period of compensation (FindLaw (North Carolina General Statutes))
- MCL 418.361 — Specific losses: weeks by body part; 80% of after-tax average weekly wage (FindLaw (Michigan Compiled Laws))
- Ohio R.C. 4123.57 — Scheduled losses in division (B), paid at the statewide average weekly wage (FindLaw (Ohio Revised Code))
- Fla. Stat. § 440.15 — Impairment income benefits: 2/3/4/6 weeks per percentage point; 75% of the TTD rate (The Florida Senate)
- Tex. Labor Code § 408.121 — Impairment income benefits: three weeks for each percentage point of impairment (FindLaw (Texas Labor Code))
- Tex. Labor Code § 408.126 — Impairment income benefit: 70% of average weekly wage (FindLaw (Texas Labor Code))
- 26 U.S.C. § 104 — Compensation for injuries or sickness (Cornell Legal Information Institute)
Not legal or financial advice. InjuryMath is not a law firm and does not sell or broker funding. This page gives general information based on the sources listed; your contracts and your state’s law control. For advice about your situation, talk to a licensed attorney in your state.