California Workers' Comp Benefits (2026)

California permanent-disability calculator

For injuries from 2014, enter the final permanent-disability (PD) rating, not unadjusted medical whole-person impairment (WPI). This tool estimates only the ordinary PD component for ratings below 70%. It uses cumulative benefit weeks and a weekly rate of two-thirds of wages, bounded by $160 and $290. It excludes medical care, apportionment, life pension, prior payments and settlement terms.

Examples you can check

A final PD rating of 10% gives 30.25 weeks: the first 9.75 points use 3 weeks per point and the remaining 0.25 uses 4. Do not multiply the entire rating by the highest bracket. For a rating of 70% or above, review the additional pension rule; this calculator does not apply.

Official DWC benefit-rate table · SB 863, section 55: Labor Code 4658(e) · How PD is determined.

This module's method and tables were checked against the linked sources October 12, 2026. This module does not certify a medical rating.

Arm injury

California has no body-part schedule. An injury to the arm is rated as an impairment and paid under the state's general formula: PD rating % (AMA Guides via the PD Rating Schedule, adjusted for occupation and age) converted to weeks by a cumulative table: 3 weeks per % up to 9.75%, rising to 16 weeks per % from 70% to 99.75%.

Arm injuries: distinguish arm, hand and whole-person ratings

Ask which anatomical level and rating unit the doctor used. Records of elbow motion, grip, nerve function and lifting restrictions may describe different aspects of the injury. Confirm whether the award uses the arm schedule or a whole-person formula before entering a percentage; do not add overlapping ratings yourself.

Back injury

Rated through the Permanent Disability Rating Schedule and paid under the same weeks-per-percent table as any other body part.

Back injuries: information needed to value the claim

Separate the diagnosis (for example, a strain, disc injury or surgery) from the permanent rating. Ask for the medical report identifying the spinal region, any nerve involvement, lasting work restrictions and whether maximum medical improvement has been reached. A diagnosis or surgery alone is not a dollar amount.

Big Toe injury

California has no body-part schedule. An injury to the big toe is rated as an impairment and paid under the state's general formula: PD rating % (AMA Guides via the PD Rating Schedule, adjusted for occupation and age) converted to weeks by a cumulative table: 3 weeks per % up to 9.75%, rising to 16 weeks per % from 70% to 99.75%.

Big-toe injuries: use the correct toe category

Confirm that the report concerns the great toe and identifies any amputation level or partial loss of use. The rule for other toes may differ. Keep findings about balance, push-off when walking and footwear restrictions, and verify the rating unit before using a percentage.

Eye injury

California has no body-part schedule. An injury to the eye is rated as an impairment and paid under the state's general formula: PD rating % (AMA Guides via the PD Rating Schedule, adjusted for occupation and age) converted to weeks by a cumulative table: 3 weeks per % up to 9.75%, rising to 16 weeks per % from 70% to 99.75%.

Eye injuries: confirm one eye, both eyes and the vision measure

Obtain the ophthalmology report and ask how corrected vision and other lasting visual effects were measured for the rating. One-eye and two-eye losses are different scenarios. The figure on this page is not a valuation of every kind of vision problem or a combined award for both eyes.

Foot injury

California has no body-part schedule. An injury to the foot is rated as an impairment and paid under the state's general formula: PD rating % (AMA Guides via the PD Rating Schedule, adjusted for occupation and age) converted to weeks by a cumulative table: 3 weeks per % up to 9.75%, rising to 16 weeks per % from 70% to 99.75%.

Foot injuries: distinguish the foot from toes and the leg

For a fracture, crush injury or lasting ankle symptoms, request the report specifying the rated member. Walking tolerance, footwear needs and weight-bearing restrictions help explain the functional effects. Do not assume a toe percentage is a foot percentage or that an ankle diagnosis automatically uses the foot schedule.

Hand injury

California has no body-part schedule. An injury to the hand is rated as an impairment and paid under the state's general formula: PD rating % (AMA Guides via the PD Rating Schedule, adjusted for occupation and age) converted to weeks by a cumulative table: 3 weeks per % up to 9.75%, rising to 16 weeks per % from 70% to 99.75%.

Hand injuries: document function and the affected member

Identify whether the report rates the entire hand, individual digits or an upper extremity. Keep findings about grip, sensation and dexterity, plus restrictions on tools or repetitive tasks. An isolated finger award and a hand award may follow different rules; this page does not calculate combinations of injuries.

Hearing Loss injury

California has no body-part schedule. An injury to the hearing loss is rated as an impairment and paid under the state's general formula: PD rating % (AMA Guides via the PD Rating Schedule, adjusted for occupation and age) converted to weeks by a cumulative table: 3 weeks per % up to 9.75%, rising to 16 weeks per % from 70% to 99.75%.

Hearing loss: check the audiogram and whether both ears are rated

Request the audiogram and the report explaining the hearing-loss percentage, which ear or ears it covers and how work-related exposure was assessed. Do not enter a one-ear rating into a two-ear formula. Tinnitus and hearing loss are not interchangeable inputs, and this calculator does not determine the medical rating.

Index Finger injury

California has no body-part schedule. An injury to the index finger is rated as an impairment and paid under the state's general formula: PD rating % (AMA Guides via the PD Rating Schedule, adjusted for occupation and age) converted to weeks by a cumulative table: 3 weeks per % up to 9.75%, rising to 16 weeks per % from 70% to 99.75%.

Index-finger injuries: verify the digit and loss level

The index finger is not interchangeable with another digit. Ask whether the report describes stiffness, tendon or nerve damage, or an amputation at a specific level. Verify whether the percentage is expressed for the finger, hand or whole person before applying the formula shown here.

Knee injury

No body-part schedule; the knee impairment is converted to a whole-person rating and paid via the weeks-per-percent table.

Knee injuries: confirm whether the rating is for the leg

For a meniscus tear, ligament injury or knee replacement, obtain the final rating report and any restrictions on standing, kneeling and walking. Confirm the body part to which the percentage applies. If the rule uses a leg schedule, the calculation needs the applicable leg loss-of-use rating, not a guessed percentage based on the procedure.

Leg injury

California has no body-part schedule. An injury to the leg is rated as an impairment and paid under the state's general formula: PD rating % (AMA Guides via the PD Rating Schedule, adjusted for occupation and age) converted to weeks by a cumulative table: 3 weeks per % up to 9.75%, rising to 16 weeks per % from 70% to 99.75%.

Leg injuries: confirm the member and lasting restrictions

Ask whether the report covers the leg, a particular joint or the whole person. Keep findings about walking, balance, limb length and restrictions on standing or lifting. Multiple injuries to the same limb need the applicable combination rules; adding their percentages can overstate the award.

Neck injury

Rated through the Permanent Disability Rating Schedule and paid under the same weeks-per-percent table as any other body part.

Neck injuries: check the cervical findings

Ask whether the rating report addresses the cervical spine alone or also documents arm symptoms and neurological findings. Keep the imaging report, treatment history and restrictions on lifting or turning your head. Do not enter an arm rating into a whole-person field without the applicable conversion.

Shoulder injury

No body-part schedule; the shoulder impairment is converted to a whole-person rating and paid via the weeks-per-percent table.

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.

Thumb injury

California has no body-part schedule. An injury to the thumb is rated as an impairment and paid under the state's general formula: PD rating % (AMA Guides via the PD Rating Schedule, adjusted for occupation and age) converted to weeks by a cumulative table: 3 weeks per % up to 9.75%, rising to 16 weeks per % from 70% to 99.75%.

Thumb injuries: check loss of use versus amputation

Request the report describing the thumb joint or amputation level, remaining motion and ability to pinch. Total loss and partial loss of use are different inputs. Check the thumb-specific rule below; a thumb rating should not be substituted for a hand or whole-person rating without the required conversion.