How much is a back injury worth in Idaho workers' comp?
Idaho does not use a fixed number of weeks for a back injury. Your doctor gives a whole-person impairment rating and the award follows the state formula (whole-person % × 500 weeks).
How a back injury is paid in Idaho
The spine is not on the schedule; back impairment is paid as a percentage of the 500-week whole person, plus possible disability in excess of impairment.
Idaho pays permanent impairment at a flat $624.25 a week (55% of the state average weekly wage), whatever you earned.
What is different in Idaho
PPD is paid at a flat 55% of the average weekly state wage regardless of the worker's own wage. On top of the impairment rating, the Commission can award disability in excess of impairment based on age, occupation and ability to compete in the labor market.
Worked examples
In Idaho this award does not depend on your wage.
| Rating | Award |
|---|---|
| 5% whole-person rating | $15,606 |
| 10% whole-person rating | $31,212 |
| 15% whole-person rating | $46,819 |
| 25% whole-person rating | $78,031 |
Calculate your back award
Settlement value vs. the statutory award
The figures on this page are what Idaho law sets. Many claims end in a negotiated settlement instead. Insurers usually start from the statutory award for your rating, then adjust for disputed ratings, future medical care, how long wage-loss benefits could run and the risk of a hearing. Knowing the statutory number for a back injury helps you judge whether an offer is low.
Idaho vs. neighboring states
| State | How a back injury is paid | Max for total loss |
|---|---|---|
| Idaho | whole-person % × 500 weeks | — |
| Montana | wage loss | — |
| Nevada | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Oregon | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Utah | whole-person % × 312 weeks | — |
| Washington | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Wyoming | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
"Max for total loss" applies to body-part schedules at the top weekly rate. Compare all 50 states and D.C.
While you recover: temporary disability in Idaho
Weekly temporary benefits while you cannot work follow these rules:
| Weekly rate | 67% of AWW (after 52 weeks: 67% of the state average weekly wage, within limits) |
|---|---|
| Maximum weekly benefit | $1,021.50 (2026-01-01 to 2026-12-31) |
| Minimum weekly benefit | 45% of state AWW = $510.75 (2026), but during first 52 weeks not more than 90% of the worker's AWW and not less than 15% of state AWW |
| Waiting period | 5 days |
| Waiting days paid back after | 14 days of disability |
| Time limit on temporary benefits | No fixed week limit in statute |
Estimate your weekly check
Frequently asked questions
How much is a back injury worth in Idaho workers' comp?
It depends on your whole-person impairment rating. Idaho pays whole-person % × 500 weeks; a 10% rating is worth up to $31,212.
What is the average workers' comp settlement for a back injury in Idaho?
Idaho does not publish an official average. The best benchmark is the statutory award for your rating: for example, a 10% whole-person rating at a $1,200 weekly wage works out to about $31,212. Settlements move up or down from there.
What is the maximum weekly workers' comp benefit in Idaho in 2026?
The maximum weekly temporary total disability benefit is $1,021.50 (2026-01-01 to 2026-12-31).
Is there a waiting period in Idaho?
Yes. Idaho does not pay the first 5 days of lost time, but pays them back once disability lasts more than 14 days.
Which law sets these amounts?
Idaho Code 72-402 (waiting period), 72-408 (rate), 72-409 (max/min), 72-428 (schedule), 72-429. The official sources are linked at the bottom of this page.
Other injuries in Idaho
Law and official sources
Official sources
Statute: Idaho Code 72-402 (waiting period), 72-408 (rate), 72-409 (max/min), 72-428 (schedule), 72-429; Idaho Code 72-423, 72-424, 72-425, 72-426 (500-week whole man), 72-428 (schedule), 72-429, 72-430
- Idaho Industrial Commission (official site)
- iic.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2026-Death-Benefits.pdf
- iic.idaho.gov/benefits-administration/benefits-faqs/
- legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title72/t72ch4/sect72-408/
- legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title72/t72ch4/sect72-409/
- legislature.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/statutesrules/idstat/Title72/T72CH4.pdf
Figures checked September 30, 2026. Maximums change every year; confirm current figures with the Idaho workers' compensation agency.
Estimate only. Your real award depends on your doctor's rating, your wage records, offsets and settlement terms. This page is general information, not legal advice.