Texas Workers' Comp Benefits (2026)
How Texas pays injured workers: the weekly rate while you recover, the 2026 maximum, and what each type of permanent injury is worth, with the statute behind each number.
What is different in Texas
Texas has no body-part schedule: IIBs start the day after maximum medical improvement and pay 3 weeks per impairment point. Workers rated 15% or more who have not returned to work, or earn less than 80% of their AWW because of the impairment, can get Supplemental Income Benefits, unless they commuted part of their IIBs.
Weekly benefits while you cannot work
| Weekly rate | 70% of AWW (75% for the first 26 weeks if pre-injury wage was under $8.50/hour); TIBs are 70% of the difference between AWW and post-injury earnings |
|---|---|
| Maximum weekly benefit | $1,271 (2025-10-01 to 2026-09-30 (FY 2026; SAWW $1,271.05)) |
| Minimum weekly benefit | $191/week (15% of SAWW, FY 2026) |
| Waiting period | 7 days |
| Waiting days paid back after | 14 days of disability |
| Time limit on temporary benefits | 104 weeks |
Estimate your weekly check
What each injury is worth
| Injury | How it is paid | Max award |
|---|---|---|
| Back | 3 weeks per whole-person point | $26,700 (10% rating) |
| Neck | 3 weeks per whole-person point | $26,700 (10% rating) |
| Shoulder | 3 weeks per whole-person point | $26,700 (10% rating) |
| Knee | 3 weeks per whole-person point | $26,700 (10% rating) |
| Arm | 3 weeks per whole-person point | $26,700 (10% rating) |
| Hand | 3 weeks per whole-person point | $26,700 (10% rating) |
| Thumb | 3 weeks per whole-person point | $26,700 (10% rating) |
| Index Finger | 3 weeks per whole-person point | $26,700 (10% rating) |
| Leg | 3 weeks per whole-person point | $26,700 (10% rating) |
| Foot | 3 weeks per whole-person point | $26,700 (10% rating) |
| Big Toe | 3 weeks per whole-person point | $26,700 (10% rating) |
| Eye | 3 weeks per whole-person point | $26,700 (10% rating) |
| Hearing Loss | 3 weeks per whole-person point | $26,700 (10% rating) |
Permanent injuries in general
Impairment Income Benefits: 3 weeks per percentage point of whole-body impairment at 70% of AWW; Supplemental Income Benefits (wage-loss) for ratings of 15% or more.
Law and official sources
Includes secondary sources
Statute: Tex. Lab. Code §§ 408.061, 408.062, 408.082, 408.101-408.105, 408.121-408.123, 408.141 et seq.; 28 TAC §§ 129.1-129.11; Tex. Lab. Code §§ 408.121, 408.142
- Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation (official site)
- tdi.texas.gov/wc/employee/benefits.html
- capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/83R/handouts/C0402013021910301/a2e8968d-00b9-4dff-91da-86263c910
- law.justia.com/codes/texas/labor-code/title-5/subtitle-a/chapter-408/subchapter-g/section-
- law.justia.com/codes/texas/labor-code/title-5/subtitle-a/chapter-408/subchapter-h/section-
Figures checked September 30, 2026. Maximums change every year; confirm current figures with the Texas 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.