New Hampshire Workers' Comp Benefits (2026)
Select the injury-date period before calculating
Static figures and examples show this table's current period. The selector changes calculator maximums and minimums. It does not use the payment date or automatically apply cost-of-living adjustments. For other dates, check with the agency.
| Injury date | Temporary weekly maximum | Permanent weekly maximum, where applicable |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-01 – 2027-06-30 | $2,323 | $2,323 |
| 2025-07-01 – 2026-06-30 | $2,309 | $2,309 |
Enter the approved weekly compensation rate, not your wage. New Hampshire rules include minimums and after-tax limits; gross wages alone do not determine the rate. The 2026 maximum was checked against SSA's government rate chart; confirm the individual rate with the state agency.
How New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire
The permanent impairment award is a separate benefit paid in one lump sum after maximum medical improvement, and ratings must use the AMA Guides 5th edition. Spine ratings based only on soft-tissue injury are excluded unless an arm or leg loses function.
Weekly benefits while you cannot work
| Weekly rate | 60% of AWW, not to exceed 100% of after-tax (net) earnings |
|---|---|
| Maximum weekly benefit | $2,323 (2026-07-01 to 2027-06-30) |
| Minimum weekly benefit | Check the rule and approved rate |
| 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.
What each injury is worth
| Injury | How it is paid | Max award |
|---|---|---|
| Back | whole-person % × 350 weeks | $81,305 at a 10% rating |
| Neck | whole-person % × 350 weeks | $81,305 at a 10% rating |
| Shoulder | depends on how it is rated | — |
| Knee | 140 weeks (as the leg) | $325,220 |
| Arm | 210 weeks | $487,830 |
| Hand | 189 weeks | $439,047 |
| Thumb | 76 weeks | $176,548 |
| Index Finger | 47 weeks | $109,181 |
| Leg | 140 weeks | $325,220 |
| Foot | 98 weeks | $227,654 |
| Big Toe | 18 weeks | $41,814 |
| Eye | 84 weeks | $195,132 |
| Hearing Loss | 123 weeks | $285,729 |
Permanent injuries in general
Whole-person impairment % (AMA Guides 5th ed.) × 350 weeks × comp rate, paid as a single lump sum; used for spine injuries and multiple permanent losses.
Shoulder: confirm the applicable category first
New Hampshire has no shoulder entry. The arm is 210 weeks; the statute does not say directly whether a shoulder is rated against the arm or on the 350-week whole-person basis.
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: RSA 281-A:22, 281-A:28, 281-A:31-a, 281-A:32; RSA 281-A:32 (I-IX), 281-A:28
- New Hampshire Department of Labor (official site)
- gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/xxiii/281-a/281-a-32.htm
- secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0452120160
Figures checked September 30, 2026. Maximums change every year; confirm current figures with the New Hampshire 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.