How much is a back injury worth in Vermont workers' comp?
Operative benefit-week bases
Rule 10.1400 uses 405 weeks outside the spine and Rule 10.1500 uses 550 for the spine. Read §648 together with the applicable rule. The linked DOL decision applies 405 weeks to a 25% rating: 101.25 weeks. This calculator requires an approved weekly rate; it does not determine minimums, adjustments or combined impairments.
DOL rules by effective period · DOL 17-19WC: 405 × 25% = 101.25.
In Vermont, a back injury is paid by the whole-person impairment rating your doctor gives (whole-person spine % × 550 weeks). A 10% rating at the top weekly rate is worth about $105,270; with a 10% whole-person rating and a $1,200 approved weekly rate, about $66,000. That is the statutory award for the permanent injury; medical care and benefits while you are off work are paid separately.
How a back injury is paid in Vermont
The formula multiplies 550 weeks by the applicable rating and the approved weekly compensation rate. Enter that approved rate, not gross wages. The tool applies the period maximum; it does not determine your rating or individual rate.
For eligible modern claims, the approved whole-person rating is multiplied by 550 weeks. Spine and non-spine impairments use different bases; combined ratings are not simply added.
What is different in Vermont
Rule 10.1400 uses 405 weeks outside the spine and Rule 10.1500 uses 550 for the spine. A 60% spine impairment gives 330 weeks; this is not a formula ceiling. Ratings must be whole-person and the weekly rate must be approved.
Worked examples
| Rating | $800 approved weekly rate | $1,200 approved weekly rate | $1,600 approved weekly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5% whole-person rating | $22,000 | $33,000 | $44,000 |
| 10% whole-person rating | $44,000 | $66,000 | $88,000 |
| 15% whole-person rating | $66,000 | $99,000 | $132,000 |
| 25% whole-person rating | $110,000 | $165,000 | $220,000 |
Calculate your back 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.
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.
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.
Vermont vs. neighboring states
| State | How a back injury is paid | Max for total loss |
|---|---|---|
| Vermont | whole-person spine % × 550 weeks | $105,270 at a 10% rating |
| Massachusetts | wage loss | — |
| New Hampshire | whole-person % × 350 weeks | $81,305 at a 10% rating |
| New York | wage loss | — |
"Max for total loss" applies to body-part schedules at the top weekly rate. Compare all 50 states and D.C.
While you recover: temporary disability in Vermont
Weekly temporary benefits while you cannot work follow these rules:
| Weekly rate | 66.67% of gross AWW plus $20/week per dependent child under 21; total may not exceed 90% of AWW (before COLA) |
|---|---|
| Maximum weekly benefit | $1,914 (2026-07-01 to 2027-06-30 (FY 2027)) |
| Minimum weekly benefit | $638/week (FY 2027); FY 2026 was $612 |
| Waiting period | 3 days |
| Waiting days paid back after | 10 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.
Vermont adds $20 a week per dependent child under 21; this estimate shows the base amount only.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a back injury worth in Vermont workers' comp?
It depends on your doctor's whole-person impairment rating. A 10% rating at the top weekly rate is worth about $105,270; with a 10% whole-person rating and a $1,200 approved weekly rate, about $66,000.
What is the average workers' comp settlement for a back injury in Vermont?
Vermont 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 approved weekly rate, about $66,000. 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 Vermont in 2026?
The maximum weekly temporary total disability benefit is $1,914 (2026-07-01 to 2027-06-30, FY 2027).
Is there a waiting period in Vermont?
Yes. Vermont does not pay the first 3 days of lost time, but pays them back once disability lasts more than 10 days.
Which law sets these amounts?
21 V.S.A. §§ 601(18)-(19), 642, 648, 650; 21 V.S.A. § 648. The official sources are linked at the bottom of this page.
Other injuries in Vermont
Law and official sources
Official sources
Statute: 21 V.S.A. §§ 601(18)-(19), 642, 648, 650; 21 V.S.A. § 648
- Vermont Department of Labor, Workers' Compensation Division (official site)
- labor.vermont.gov/minimum-and-maximum-compensation-rates-annual-change
- labor.vermont.gov/sites/labor/files/documents/historicalrates.pdf
- legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/21/009/00642
- legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/21/009/00648
- law.justia.com/codes/vermont/title-21/chapter-9/section-646/
Figures checked September 30, 2026. Maximums change every year; confirm current figures with the Vermont 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.