Nebraska Workers' Comp Benefits (2026)
How Nebraska 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 Nebraska
Nebraska pays members by schedule and the body as a whole by loss of earning power; when several members are injured, each is paid separately with the benefit periods running one after another.
Weekly benefits while you cannot work
| Weekly rate | 66.67% of AWW |
|---|---|
| Maximum weekly benefit | $1,166 (2026-01-01 to 2026-12-31) |
| Minimum weekly benefit | $49 (or actual wages if less) |
| Waiting period | Not confirmed |
| Waiting days paid back after | Not confirmed |
| 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 | depends on how it is rated | — |
| Knee | 215 weeks (as the leg) | $250,690 |
| Arm | 225 weeks | $262,350 |
| Hand | 175 weeks | $204,050 |
| Thumb | 60 weeks | $69,960 |
| Index Finger | 35 weeks | $40,810 |
| Leg | 215 weeks | $250,690 |
| Foot | 150 weeks | $174,900 |
| Big Toe | 30 weeks | $34,980 |
| Eye | 125 weeks | $145,750 |
| Hearing Loss | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
Permanent injuries in general
66⅔% of the difference between pre-injury wages and post-injury earning power, up to 300 weeks.
Shoulder: confirm the applicable category first
Nebraska has no shoulder entry. The statute does not say whether a shoulder is scheduled as the arm (225 weeks) or treated as a body-as-a-whole injury paid on lost earning power.
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
Official sources
Statute: Neb. Rev. Stat. 48-119, 48-121, 48-121.01; Neb. Rev. Stat. § 48-121(2), (3)
- Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court (official site)
- newcc.gov/service-providers/attorneys/benefit-rates
- law.justia.com/codes/nebraska/chapter-48/statute-48-121/
- nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=48-121&print=true
- law.justia.com/codes/nebraska/chapter-48/statute-48-121-01/
Figures checked September 30, 2026. Maximums change every year; confirm current figures with the Nebraska 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.