Washington Workers' Comp Benefits (2026)
How Washington 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 Washington
Washington pays PPD as fixed dollar awards, not weeks of wages, so two workers with the same rating get the same award regardless of pay. Back and neck injuries are placed into numbered impairment categories set by L&I rules.
Weekly benefits while you cannot work
| Weekly rate | Monthly time-loss as % of gross monthly wages by family status: 60% single, +5% for spouse/registered domestic partner, +2% per dependent child (up to 5), max 75% |
|---|---|
| Maximum weekly benefit | Not confirmed (2026-07-01 to 2027-06-30 (monthly max $9,981.00 = 120% of state average monthly wage)) |
| Minimum weekly benefit | Monthly minimum $1,247.62 (15% of state average monthly wage) + $10 for spouse and $10 per dependent child; if gross wages are lower, 100% of wages or the pre-2008 minimum, whichever is higher |
| Waiting period | Not confirmed |
| Waiting days paid back after | 7 days of disability |
| Time limit on temporary benefits | No fixed week limit in statute |
No weekly calculator for this state: the benefit depends on monthly wages, family size or a figure we could not confirm. Use the official rule above.
What each injury is worth
| Injury | How it is paid | Max award |
|---|---|---|
| Back | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Neck | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Shoulder | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Knee | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Arm | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Hand | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Thumb | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Index Finger | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Leg | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Foot | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Big Toe | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Eye | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Hearing Loss | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
Permanent injuries in general
Fixed dollar award: impairment measured against total bodily impairment (a statutory dollar amount, CPI-adjusted yearly), using categories set by L&I rule; not tied to wages.
Law and official sources
Official sources
Statute: RCW 51.32.060, 51.32.090, 51.32.080; RCW 51.32.080; WAC 296-20-240, 296-20-280
- Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (official site)
- lni.wa.gov/insurance/_docs/maxtlrates.pdf
- lni.wa.gov/insurance/_docs/CAGTimeLossComp.pdf
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=51.32.080
- app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=296-20-280
- app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=296-20-240
Figures checked September 30, 2026. Maximums change every year; confirm current figures with the Washington 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.