Why Your State's Weekly Cap Is the Number That Matters Most
Most injured workers focus on the percentage — 66.67%, 70%, 80% — when they think about workers' comp benefits. The percentage matters, but the cap determines how much you actually receive. Once your AWW times the rate hits the state cap, the cap wins. You do not get more regardless of what you earned.
A worker earning $2,500 per week in Georgia receives $675. A worker earning the same amount in Missouri receives $2,350. Same injury. Same earnings. Three times the weekly check — because of where they work.
The gap is not random. State caps are tied to each state's Average Weekly Wage (SAWW) and updated annually. High-cost-of-living states with higher SAWWs tend to produce higher caps. Lower-wage states produce lower caps. The workers in those lower-cap states are not getting less because their injury matters less — they are getting less because their legislature set a lower ceiling.
How State Maximums Are Set and Updated
Most states calculate their maximum weekly benefit as a percentage of the State Average Weekly Wage. The most common formula is 100% of SAWW for the TTD maximum. That means in a state where the average worker earns $1,000 per week, the TTD cap is $1,000 per week.
A few states use different formulas. Connecticut uses 150% of SAWW, which is why its cap reaches $1,897. Missouri's high cap reflects its formula, not unusually high wages. Some states like Georgia have not updated their cap in years, which is why it sits at $675 — well below the national norm.
Update timing also varies. Most states update January 1 of each year. Others update July 1 or October 1. Using last year's cap — which carriers sometimes do — can underpay your benefit for months at a time. The rates in this table reflect each state's current 2026 maximums.
The States With the Highest Weekly TTD Caps (2026)
| Rank | State | 2026 Max Weekly TTD | Benefit Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Missouri | $2,350 | 66.67% |
| 2 | Illinois | $2,008 | 66.67% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $1,922 | 60% |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $1,900 | 66.67% |
| 5 | Connecticut | $1,897 | 75% |
| 6 | California | $1,764 | 66.67% |
| 7 | Alaska | $1,726 | 80% |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $1,625 | 75% |
The States With the Lowest Weekly TTD Caps (2026)
| Rank | State | 2026 Max Weekly TTD | Benefit Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia | $675 | 66.67% |
| 2 | Mississippi | $637 | 66.67% |
| 3 | Arkansas | $870 | 66.67% |
| 4 | Idaho | $892 | 66.67% |
| 5 | Delaware | $896 | 66.67% |
States That Do Not Use 66.67% as the Base Rate
Several states use a different benefit rate than the standard two-thirds formula:
- Alaska: 80% of spendable weekly wage (after-tax). This produces higher effective benefits than the cap suggests for lower-wage workers.
- Maine: 80% of the spendable (after-tax) weekly wage, similar to Alaska's formula.
- Michigan: 80% of after-tax wages, subject to their cap. Michigan's net-wage formula can produce higher benefits for workers with higher deductions.
- Connecticut: 75% of gross AWW. Connecticut pairs this with one of the highest caps in the country ($1,897).
- Rhode Island: 75% of gross AWW, up to $1,625.
- Ohio: 72% of AWW for total disability.
- New Jersey and Oklahoma: 70% of AWW.
- Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Washington: 60% of AWW. These lower rates are partially offset by higher caps.
Minimum Weekly Benefits by State
Some states set a floor on weekly TTD to protect the lowest-wage workers. The minimums range widely:
- New York minimum: $325/week
- Minnesota minimum: $130/week
- New Jersey minimum: $246/week
- Indiana minimum: $75/week
- Wyoming: No minimum (worker receives full AWW if below the maximum)
If your AWW is low enough that your calculated benefit falls below the state minimum, you receive the minimum instead — or your full AWW if that is lower than the minimum.
How to Use This Table
Look up your state to find the current maximum weekly benefit, the benefit rate percentage, and the minimum (if any). Then use the TTD Calculator to see exactly where your AWW lands relative to the cap.
If your current weekly check is lower than what the TTD Calculator produces for your state — get a free attorney consultation. The difference may be a carrier error, a wrong benefit rate, or an incorrect AWW calculation.
Workers' Comp Calculators by State
Pick your state for benefit caps, weekly rate, and a state-specific calculator.
FAQ
What state has the highest workers' comp weekly benefit?+
As of 2026, Missouri has the highest maximum weekly TTD benefit at $2,350 per week. Illinois is second at $2,008 per week, followed by Massachusetts at $1,922, the District of Columbia at $1,900, and Connecticut at $1,897. These maximums apply only to workers whose AWW times the state's benefit rate exceeds the cap. Most workers earn enough that the cap is the relevant number.
What state has the lowest workers' comp weekly benefit?+
Mississippi has the lowest maximum weekly TTD benefit in 2026 at $637 per week, followed by Georgia at $675 per week. Both states use the standard 66.67% benefit rate but cap weekly payments at amounts well below the national average. A worker earning $1,500 per week in Mississippi receives $637. The same worker in Missouri would receive $1,000.
How often are workers' comp benefit rates updated?+
Most states update their maximum weekly benefit rates annually, typically effective January 1. Some states update on July 1 or October 1. Updates are tied to changes in the State Average Weekly Wage. States with growing economies tend to see their caps increase by 3 to 6% per year. A few states, like Georgia, have not updated their caps in years, which is why their maximums lag behind the national average significantly.
Does the weekly benefit rate change if I work multiple jobs?+
The benefit rate does not change, but your average weekly wage should include earnings from all jobs you held at the time of the injury. In most states, if you work two jobs and are injured at one, the AWW calculation includes income from both. This increases your AWW, which increases your weekly benefit. Some states limit AWW to wages from the employer at which the injury occurred — check your state's specific rules.
What happens if my weekly wage is below the state minimum?+
If your calculated weekly benefit (AWW times the state rate) falls below your state's minimum weekly benefit, you receive the minimum instead. If your AWW itself is lower than the minimum, most states pay your full AWW — not the minimum — to avoid paying you more than you were earning before the injury. This protects very low-wage workers from receiving zero or near-zero benefits.
Are workers' comp weekly rates the same for TTD and PPD?+
In most states, yes — the same weekly rate applies to both TTD and PPD benefits. The difference is in how long benefits last: TTD pays until you return to work or reach MMI, while PPD pays for a fixed number of weeks based on your impairment rating and body part schedule. Both use the same weekly amount: your AWW times the state benefit rate, capped at the state maximum.
Wondering if your state's cap is being applied correctly?
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