Alabama Workers' Comp Benefits (2026)
How Alabama 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 Alabama
Alabama pays scheduled members (arm 222 weeks, leg 200 weeks) proportionally to the loss of use; injuries off the schedule are paid on actual wage loss, not on an impairment percentage. Permanent total disability cannot be paid as a lump sum without both employer and employee consent.
Weekly benefits while you cannot work
| Weekly rate | 66.67% of AWW |
|---|---|
| Maximum weekly benefit | $1,219 (2026-07-01 to 2027-06-30) |
| Minimum weekly benefit | 27.5% of state AWW (or actual wage if lower); $322 for injuries 2025-07-01 to 2026-06-30; 2026-27 dollar figure not confirmed |
| Waiting period | 3 days |
| Waiting days paid back after | 21 days of disability |
| Time limit on temporary benefits | No fixed week limit in statute |
Estimate your weekly check
Assumes temporary total disability and no post-injury work earnings. It does not calculate partial disability, retroactive payments, offsets or special low-wage rules. Confirm the injury date and the insurer's wage calculation.
What each injury is worth
| Injury | How it is paid | Max award |
|---|---|---|
| Back | wage loss | — |
| Neck | wage loss | — |
| Shoulder | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Knee | 200 weeks (as the leg) | $44,000 |
| Arm | 222 weeks | $48,840 |
| Hand | 170 weeks | $37,400 |
| Thumb | 62 weeks | $13,640 |
| Index Finger | 43 weeks | $9,460 |
| Leg | 200 weeks | $44,000 |
| Foot | 139 weeks | $30,580 |
| Big Toe | 32 weeks | $7,040 |
| Eye | 124 weeks | $27,280 |
| Hearing Loss | 163 weeks | $35,860 |
Permanent injuries in general
66 2/3% of the difference between pre-injury AWW and what the worker can earn after the injury, for up to 300 weeks.
Shoulder: confirm the applicable category first
No shoulder entry in the schedule; whether a shoulder injury is paid as partial loss of the arm (222 weeks) or as a non-scheduled disability is not settled by the statute text.
Shoulder injuries: identify the rating basis
For a rotator-cuff tear, fracture or other shoulder condition, request the final report on range of motion, strength and work restrictions. Check whether the state treats this claim as an arm loss, a whole-person impairment or another category. A shoulder percentage and an arm percentage are not automatically interchangeable.
The information available here does not by itself establish whether the claim uses an arm rating, a whole-person rating or lost-earnings benefits. Ask the agency or rating issuer to identify the category and the rule or guide used before valuing an offer. Do not enter a shoulder percentage into another rating unit without that confirmation.
Law and official sources
Includes secondary sources
Statute: Ala. Code §§25-5-57, 25-5-59, 25-5-68; Ala. Code §25-5-57(a)(3)
- law.justia.com/codes/alabama/title-25/chapter-5/article-3/section-25-5-57/
- law.justia.com/codes/alabama/title-25/chapter-5/article-3/section-25-5-68/
- secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0452150045
Figures checked September 30, 2026. Maximums change every year; confirm current figures with the Alabama 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.