How are injured worker’s temporary total disability benefits calculated?

If you are injured in a workplace accident you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits may include temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, permanent partial disability, and permanent total disability. Temporary and permanent disability compensation is based on your compensation rate.

Compensation rates are first calculated by verifying the average weekly wage in Utah. This amount is determined by the Utah Department of Workforce Services and changes annually.

Here is a list of the last several years:

YEAR	Minimum	Maximum
7/1/2020	$45	$954
7/1/2019	$45	$916
7/1/2018	$45	$879
7/1/2017	$45	$855
7/1/2016	$45	$811
7/1/2016	$45	$790
7/1/2015	$45	$782

A workplace injury resulting in a total inability to work on a temporary basis after July 1, 2020, at a minimum, would result in payments of $45.00 each week. The maximum amount an injured worker can receive is $954.00 per week.

An injured worker’s compensation rate is computed by multiplying the average weekly wages received from employment by 2/3. Injured workers also receive an additional $20 for their spouse and each dependent child – up to four children.

EXAMPLE

If an injured worker makes $1000 per week and is married with two children his compensation rate would be $1000(2/3) + $20 for spouse + $20 per child. This equals $726.66.  However, an injured worker cannot earn more than $954.00 per week for temporary total disability based upon the state average weekly wage.

Despite being able to invest and calculate billions of dollars in insurance premiums, insurance companies are incredibly inept at third-grade math and often miscalculate an injured worker’s compensation rate. Call our office if you have questions about the amount workers’ compensation is paying you for your temporary total disability benefits.