How much is a neck injury worth in Illinois workers' comp?
In Illinois, a neck injury is paid by the whole-person impairment rating your doctor gives. A 10% rating at the top weekly rate is worth about $54,233; with a 10% whole-person rating and a $1,200 weekly wage, about $36,000. That is the statutory award for the permanent injury; medical care and benefits while you are off work are paid separately.
How a neck injury is paid in Illinois
Unscheduled; paid as a percentage of the person as a whole (500 weeks), with the same fractured-vertebra minimums.
Each week is paid at 60% of your average weekly wage, up to $1,084.66 a week.
What is different in Illinois
Instead of a percentage award, a worker who cannot return to the same occupation can seek a wage-differential award under 8(d)1; for injuries after 1 September 2011 it lasts until age 67 or 5 years after the award becomes final, whichever is later.
Worked examples
| Rating | $800 weekly wage | $1,200 weekly wage | $1,600 weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5% whole-person rating | $12,000 | $18,000 | $24,000 |
| 10% whole-person rating | $24,000 | $36,000 | $48,000 |
| 15% whole-person rating | $36,000 | $54,000 | $72,000 |
| 25% whole-person rating | $60,000 | $90,000 | $120,000 |
Calculate your neck award
Compare only the same benefit component on the same gross basis. If an offer includes medical care, temporary benefits or other rights, do not enter it here. The balance subtracts payments for this same benefit only, not fees or other offsets.
The result is the statutory permanent award only. Medical care, temporary benefits and fees are not included. Use the exact rating from the medical report: a body-part rating and a whole-person rating are not interchangeable.
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.
Settlement value vs. the statutory award
The statutory benefit described here and a settlement value are different figures. Request an itemized proposal identifying the benefits included, amounts already paid, deductions, future medical treatment and rights being resolved. Which benefits can be settled and what approval is required depend on state rules. This page does not calculate future medical costs or predict a negotiated outcome.
While you recover: temporary disability in Illinois
Weekly temporary benefits while you cannot work follow these rules:
| Weekly rate | 66.67% of AWW |
|---|---|
| Maximum weekly benefit | $2,045.63 (2026-07-15 to 2027-01-14 (prior: $2,008.60 for 2026-01-15 to 2026-07-14; $1,974.73 for 2025-07-15 to 2026-01-14)) |
| Minimum weekly benefit | Lesser of AWW or $400 (0 dependents), $460 (1), $520 (2), $580 (3), $600 (4+); based on 66.67% of $15 x 40 hrs |
| Waiting period | 3 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
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.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a neck injury worth in Illinois workers' comp?
It depends on your doctor's whole-person impairment rating. A 10% rating at the top weekly rate is worth about $54,233; with a 10% whole-person rating and a $1,200 weekly wage, about $36,000.
What is the average workers' comp settlement for a neck injury in Illinois?
Illinois does not publish an official average settlement. The best benchmark is the statutory award for your rating: with a 10% whole-person rating and a $1,200 weekly wage, about $36,000. A settlement can be higher or lower depending on future medical care, disputed ratings and which other benefits it closes.
What is the maximum weekly workers' comp benefit in Illinois in 2026?
The maximum weekly temporary total disability benefit is $2,045.63.
Is there a waiting period in Illinois?
Yes. Illinois does not pay the first 3 days of lost time, but pays them back once disability lasts more than 14 days.
Which law sets these amounts?
820 ILCS 305/8(b) (TTD), 305/8(d) and 305/8(e) (PPD schedule), 305/8.1b; 820 ILCS 305/8(d)1, 8(d)2, 8(e), 8.1b. The official sources are linked at the bottom of this page.
Other injuries in Illinois
Law and official sources
Includes secondary sources
Statute: 820 ILCS 305/8(b) (TTD), 305/8(d) and 305/8(e) (PPD schedule), 305/8.1b; 820 ILCS 305/8(d)1, 8(d)2, 8(e), 8.1b
- Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission (official site)
- iwcc.illinois.gov/resources/resources-for/benefits.html
- ilga.gov/Documents/legislation/ilcs/documents/082003050K8.htm
Figures checked September 30, 2026. Maximums change every year; confirm current figures with the Illinois 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.