How much does workers' comp pay in Iowa?
- Iowa pays 80% of weekly spendable earnings — gross wages minus taxes based on marital status and exemptions, using the agency ratebook — not 80% of gross pay.
- The TTD maximum is $2,431 a week for injuries July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 ($2,350 for July 2025 – June 2026).
- The minimum is the lower of $425 ($411) or spendable earnings.
- Enter your spendable earnings from the ratebook.
Official-source review: . General guidance, not legal advice.
Calculate Iowa ordinary total-disability pay
Estimated weekly TTD
$960.00
Assumes full temporary disability and a correct AWW. Does not establish eligibility, apply waiting periods or offsets, or model partial disability.
Iowa permanent-award rules: what actually drives the payout
- Iowa scheduled permanent partial disability = functional impairment % × scheduled weeks × the PPD rate (80% of spendable earnings, capped at $2,237 a week for July 2026 – June 2027 injuries and $2,162 for July 2025 – June 2026).
- Schedule: arm 250 weeks, hand 190, leg 220, foot 150, eye 140.
- Unscheduled (body-as-a-whole) injuries use 500 weeks and industrial disability (lost earning capacity), but a worker returned to work at the same or greater earnings is generally paid on functional impairment.
Medical impairment, legal disability and loss of earning capacity are different measurements. Use the established award category and applicable rate before doing dollar arithmetic. Do not borrow a rating from Social Security, the VA or another state.
| Award basis | Full-loss / full-person weeks |
|---|---|
| Body as a whole (functional, 500 weeks) | 500 |
| Arm | 250 |
| Hand | 190 |
| Leg | 220 |
| Foot | 150 |
| Eye | 140 |
How to evaluate an Iowa settlement
- The Workers' Compensation Commissioner must approve settlements.
- An agreement for settlement establishes entitlement and generally preserves future rights.
- A compromise settlement resolves a dispute and ends future rights for the settled injury, so it can close medical care.
- Check the wage worksheet, award classification, rating evidence and unpaid benefits.
- Identify exactly which medical conditions, future treatment and wage-loss rights are released.
- Separate gross value from prior payments, approved fees, liens and other adjustments.
- Review Medicare and Social Security coordination when relevant; a medical allocation is not an automatic settlement multiplier.
Iowa workers' compensation rates by injury date
Dated rate history from official Iowa sources, reviewed . Looking for employer premiums? See workers' comp insurance cost by state.
| Injury period | Weekly maximum | Minimum basis |
|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 | $2,431.00 | $425.00; no more than actual wages |
| July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 | $2,350.00 | $411.00; no more than actual wages |
| July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025 | $2,274.00 | $398.00; no more than actual wages |
Iowa PPD weekly caps: $2,237 (July 2026 – June 2027), $2,162 (July 2025 – June 2026), $2,092 (July 2024 – June 2025). All amounts use 80% of spendable earnings from the agency ratebook.
Reporting, filing and official sources
- Your employer must have notice or knowledge of the injury within 90 days of when you knew or should have known it was work-related.
- File a petition within two years of the injury if no weekly benefits were paid, or within three years of the last weekly payment.
Iowa benefit questions
How much does workers' comp pay in Iowa?+
Iowa pays 80% of weekly spendable earnings — gross wages minus taxes based on marital status and exemptions, using the agency ratebook — not 80% of gross pay. The TTD maximum is $2,431 a week for injuries July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 ($2,350 for July 2025 – June 2026). The minimum is the lower of $425 ($411) or spendable earnings. Enter your spendable earnings from the ratebook.
How do permanent disability benefits work in Iowa?+
Iowa scheduled permanent partial disability = functional impairment % × scheduled weeks × the PPD rate (80% of spendable earnings, capped at $2,237 a week for July 2026 – June 2027 injuries and $2,162 for July 2025 – June 2026). Schedule: arm 250 weeks, hand 190, leg 220, foot 150, eye 140. Unscheduled (body-as-a-whole) injuries use 500 weeks and industrial disability (lost earning capacity), but a worker returned to work at the same or greater earnings is generally paid on functional impairment.
Can an Iowa settlement close future medical care?+
The Workers' Compensation Commissioner must approve settlements. An agreement for settlement establishes entitlement and generally preserves future rights. A compromise settlement resolves a dispute and ends future rights for the settled injury, so it can close medical care.
What are the reporting and filing deadlines in Iowa?+
Your employer must have notice or knowledge of the injury within 90 days of when you knew or should have known it was work-related. File a petition within two years of the injury if no weekly benefits were paid, or within three years of the last weekly payment.
What are spendable earnings in Iowa?+
Gross weekly earnings minus payroll taxes for your marital status and exemptions, read from the agency's annual ratebook. Iowa benefits are 80% of that figure.
Who chooses my Iowa workers' comp doctor?+
Generally the employer. If care is inadequate, you can request alternate care and petition the Division if the request is denied.
Is Iowa industrial disability always paid for back injuries?+
Not always. If you return to or are offered work at the same or greater earnings, compensation is generally based on functional impairment, with possible later review if that job ends.
Does Iowa pay mileage to medical appointments?+
Yes. Reasonable and necessary travel expenses for treatment are payable.
Does surgery guarantee a larger Iowa settlement?+
No. Surgery can change treatment costs, restrictions and medical evidence, but there is no automatic surgery multiplier. Permanent disability must be established under the applicable rules. Compare the benefits released and future care needs, not just the procedure name.
Are Iowa workers' comp benefits taxable?+
Benefits paid under a workers' compensation law for an occupational injury or illness are generally excluded from federal income tax. Returned-to-work wages, retirement payments and Social Security offsets can have different tax treatment. Review IRS Publication 525 and seek tax advice for the agreement's allocations.
Can I receive pain and suffering through Iowa workers' comp?+
Workers' compensation generally does not award pain and suffering. A separate claim against a responsible third party may allow different damages, but employer immunity and reimbursement rights need separate legal review.
When should I compare an Iowa settlement offer?+
Compare an offer after understanding the wage calculation, medical condition, permanent-award category, unpaid benefits and rights released. There is no guaranteed settlement timeline. A bigger lump sum may be worse if it transfers expensive future treatment to you.
Where can I verify my Iowa benefit rate?+
Use the official agency resources linked on this page and the written rate calculation in your claim. Injury date, benefit category, wage records and applicable limits matter. An entered rate is not independently verified by this calculator.
These calculations are estimates based on your inputs and general workers' compensation formulas. Actual benefits depend on state law, your specific injury, employer insurance carrier, and other factors. This is not legal advice. Consult a licensed workers' compensation attorney for guidance specific to your claim.