Why Your State's Weekly Cap Is the Number That Matters Most
A worker earning $4,000 per week in Mississippi receives $654.63. A worker earning the same amount in Iowa receives $2,431. Same injury. Same earnings. Nearly four 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
A few states use different formulas. Connecticut caps benefits at 100% of its state average wage ($1,776). Maine's maximum is 125% of its state average wage. Georgia sets its maximum in statute rather than tying it to wages each year, which is why it sits at $800 - well below most states.
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 | Iowa | $2,431 | 80.00% |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $2,309 | 60.00% |
| 3 | Washington | $2,303 | 60.00% |
| 4 | Illinois | $2,046 | 66.67% |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $2,007 | 60.00% |
| 6 | Oregon | $1,943 | 66.67% |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $1,852 | 66.67% |
| 8 | Vermont | $1,836 | 66.67% |
| 9 | Connecticut | $1,776 | 75.00% |
| 10 | California | $1,764 | 66.67% |
The States With the Lowest Weekly TTD Caps (2026)
| Rank | State | 2026 Max Weekly TTD | Benefit Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi | $655 | 66.67% |
| 2 | Georgia | $800 | 66.67% |
| 3 | Indiana | $878 | 66.67% |
| 4 | Louisiana | $903 | 66.67% |
| 5 | Kansas | $905 | 66.67% |
| 6 | Arizona | $943 | 66.67% |
| 7 | Arkansas | $953 | 66.67% |
| 8 | Delaware | $963 | 66.67% |
States That Do Not Use 66.67% as the Base Rate
- Iowa: 80% of spendable (after-tax) weekly earnings, up to $2,431.
- Alaska: 80% of spendable weekly wage (after-tax). This produces higher effective benefits than the cap suggests for lower-wage workers.
- 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 after-tax AWW, capped at 100% of the state average weekly wage ($1,776).
- Rhode Island: 62% of gross AWW, up to $1,691.
- Ohio: 72% of AWW for the first 12 weeks, then 66.67%.
- New Jersey, Oklahoma and Texas: 70% of AWW.
- Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Washington: 60% of AWW. These lower rates are partially offset by higher caps.
Minimum Weekly Benefits by State
- New York minimum: $384.45/week
- Connecticut minimum: $355.20/week (20% of the maximum, never more than 75% of your wage)
- Minnesota minimum: $318.82/week
- New Jersey minimum: $320/week
- Wyoming minimum: about $389/week (converted from a monthly minimum)
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
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.
Related calculators and guides
Keep going with the tool that matches your stage of the claim.
Weekly benefit, PPD, and settlement in one place.
What your weekly temporary disability check should be.
Scheduled weeks and permanent impairment awards.
Light-duty benefit when you earn less while healing.
Federal employee FECA award by body part.
Lump-sum value of your full claim.
Turn a 5%, 10%, or 20% rating into dollars.
Travel reimbursement for medical appointments.
Typical settlement ranges by injury and state.
Average settlement for fusion, rotator cuff, knee replacement, and more.
Why comp does not pay it, and when a third-party claim does.
When carriers typically make an offer.
What coverage costs by class code and payroll.
Guides, state updates, and claim strategy.
Herniated discs, fusions, and lumbar strains.
Lumbar disc herniation and fusion values.
Rotator cuff, labrum, and replacements.
Meniscus tears, ACL, and knee replacement.
Amputations, crush injuries, and nerve damage.
Carpal tunnel, fractures, ligament tears, and fusion.
Concussion and traumatic brain injury claims.
FAQ
What state has the highest workers' comp weekly benefit?+
As of 2026, Iowa has the highest maximum weekly TTD benefit at $2,431 per week. New Hampshire is second at $2,309, followed by Washington at about $2,303 (converted from a monthly maximum), Illinois at $2,045.63, Massachusetts at $2,007.20, and Oregon at $1,943.41. These maximums matter only when your wage times the state's benefit rate exceeds the cap; below that, your rate formula sets the check.
What state has the lowest workers' comp weekly benefit?+
Mississippi has the lowest maximum weekly TTD benefit in 2026 at $654.63 per week, followed by Georgia at $800, Indiana at $878, Louisiana at $903, and Kansas at $905. All five use the standard 66.67% benefit rate. A worker earning $1,500 per week in Mississippi receives $654.63; the same worker in Iowa, where the cap is $2,431, would receive the full calculated benefit instead of a capped one.
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, such as Georgia, set their caps by statute rather than by an annual wage formula, so their maximums change only when the legislature acts.
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?
A licensed workers’ compensation lawyer can explain your rights, review disputed benefits, and help you assess a settlement offer. Ask about consultation costs, attorney fees, and expenses before hiring anyone. No result is guaranteed.