In Pennsylvania, every company is required to have workers’ compensation insurance if they have at least one employee. This important insurance helps injured workers recover medical costs and lost wages associated with any injury that occurs while on the job.
If you’ve sustained an injury while working, you might be wondering how much you’ll be able to receive with your Pennsylvania workers’ comp benefits. This is an important question to ask! Finding out more about how payments work under the state’s system will help you decide if you’ll accept workers’ compensation benefits or if you’ll pursue further compensation through a personal injury claim.
How Much Does Workers' Comp Pay in PA?
Workers' compensation payments are not a fixed amount. Instead, they are calculated based on a workers’ average weekly wage. An average weekly wage generally amounts to about two-thirds the amount a worker earned before their injury.
There are exemptions made during the calculation of a worker’s average weekly wage. For example, as of January 2021, a worker can’t make more than $1,130 in weekly benefits with workers’ compensation. So, those who make more money might not be able to receive two-thirds of their actual wages.
How to Calculate Your Workers' Compensation Payments in PA
If you make a set amount each week, you can calculate your average weekly pay using your gross weekly paycheck. Hourly workers will need to calculate average income based on how long they've worked for their employer.
However, Pennsylvania also has special rules for those who make a certain weekly amount. It places workers into two categories that determine how much of the maximum benefits a person will be able to recover.
2021 workers' compensation rates in PA are as follows:
- A limit of $565 each week for workers who make between $627.78 and $847.50
- A maximum of 90% weekly of a person’s weekly wages if their average weekly wage is $627.77 or less
Pennsylvania workers’ compensation maximums change annually, and updated numbers can be found here. The numbers are calculated based on average wages in Pennsylvania. For example, 2021's numbers were increased 4.6 percent from the previous year based on the statewide average weekly wage.
Should I Accept Workers’ Compensation Benefits?
While workers’ compensation insurance is an important protection and safety net for workers who sustain an injury on the job, it might not be the best option for them after an accident. Workers’ compensation is designed to help workers receive compensation after an accident. However, it’s also designed to protect employers for litigation. Once a worker accepts workers’ compensation, they’ll be unable to file a personal injury claim against their employer should they need more money for losses related to their injuries.
If you've been seriously injured by an accident that should have been prevented by your employer, you might be able to file a personal injury claim. Doing so might help you get the compensation that you need rather than the amount that is available through workers' compensation insurance. To find out what options you should take after your work-related injury, you should speak with a work injury lawyer.
If you’re a Pennsylvania worker and are struggling to receive the workers’ compensation you need, Handler, Henning & Rosenberg LLC is ready to help. Attorney Jeff Watson is certified in Pennsylvania workers’ compensation matters and is ready to help you. If you don’t believe that workers’ comp will be enough to cover the losses associated with your injury, our team of work injury lawyers is ready to hold your employer accountable for the negligence that harmed you.
Call us today for a free consultation with our Pennsylvania workers’ compensation lawyers. We’re standing by to take your call and help you decide what your options are at (888) 498-3023.