Washington Workers' Comp Benefits (2026)
How Washington 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 Washington
Washington pays PPD as fixed dollar awards, not weeks of wages, so two workers with the same rating get the same award regardless of pay. Back and neck injuries are placed into numbered impairment categories set by L&I rules.
Weekly benefits while you cannot work
| Weekly rate | Monthly time-loss as % of gross monthly wages by family status: 60% single, +5% for spouse/registered domestic partner, +2% per dependent child (up to 5), max 75% |
|---|---|
| Maximum weekly benefit | Not confirmed (2026-07-01 to 2027-06-30 (monthly max $9,981 = 120% of state average monthly wage)) |
| Minimum weekly benefit | Monthly minimum $1,247.62 (15% of state average monthly wage) + $10 for spouse and $10 per dependent child; if gross wages are lower, 100% of wages or the pre-2008 minimum, whichever is higher |
| Waiting period | Not confirmed |
| Waiting days paid back after | 7 days of disability |
| Time limit on temporary benefits | No fixed week limit in statute |
No weekly calculator for this state: the benefit depends on monthly wages, family size or a figure we could not confirm. Use the official rule above.
How each injury is assessed
| Injury | How it is paid | Fixed permanent figure |
|---|---|---|
| Back | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Neck | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Shoulder | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Knee | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Arm | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Hand | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Thumb | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Index Finger | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Leg | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Foot | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Big Toe | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Eye | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Hearing Loss | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
Permanent injuries in general
Fixed dollar award: impairment measured against total bodily impairment (a statutory dollar amount, CPI-adjusted yearly), using categories set by L&I rule; not tied to wages.
Injury rules and records in one guide
The injury determines which medical findings you need; the payment formula follows state rules. Use the sections below to identify the correct category before comparing an offer. Do not convert or combine body-part ratings yourself.
Arm injury
Washington has no body-part schedule. An injury to the arm is rated as an impairment and paid under the state's general formula: Fixed dollar award: impairment measured against total bodily impairment (a statutory dollar amount, CPI-adjusted yearly), using categories set by L&I rule; not tied to wages.
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 into one of 8 categories of dorso-lumbar/lumbosacral impairment (WAC 296-20-280), each paid as a fixed dollar amount.
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
Washington has no body-part schedule. An injury to the big toe is rated as an impairment and paid under the state's general formula: Fixed dollar award: impairment measured against total bodily impairment (a statutory dollar amount, CPI-adjusted yearly), using categories set by L&I rule; not tied to wages.
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
Washington has no body-part schedule. An injury to the eye is rated as an impairment and paid under the state's general formula: Fixed dollar award: impairment measured against total bodily impairment (a statutory dollar amount, CPI-adjusted yearly), using categories set by L&I rule; not tied to wages.
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
Washington has no body-part schedule. An injury to the foot is rated as an impairment and paid under the state's general formula: Fixed dollar award: impairment measured against total bodily impairment (a statutory dollar amount, CPI-adjusted yearly), using categories set by L&I rule; not tied to wages.
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
Washington has no body-part schedule. An injury to the hand is rated as an impairment and paid under the state's general formula: Fixed dollar award: impairment measured against total bodily impairment (a statutory dollar amount, CPI-adjusted yearly), using categories set by L&I rule; not tied to wages.
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
Washington has no body-part schedule. An injury to the hearing loss is rated as an impairment and paid under the state's general formula: Fixed dollar award: impairment measured against total bodily impairment (a statutory dollar amount, CPI-adjusted yearly), using categories set by L&I rule; not tied to wages.
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
Washington has no body-part schedule. An injury to the index finger is rated as an impairment and paid under the state's general formula: Fixed dollar award: impairment measured against total bodily impairment (a statutory dollar amount, CPI-adjusted yearly), using categories set by L&I rule; not tied to wages.
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
Washington pays fixed dollar awards. The schedule lists leg amputations above, at and below the knee; lesser knee impairment is rated as a partial loss of the leg under L&I rules.
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
Washington has no body-part schedule. An injury to the leg is rated as an impairment and paid under the state's general formula: Fixed dollar award: impairment measured against total bodily impairment (a statutory dollar amount, CPI-adjusted yearly), using categories set by L&I rule; not tied to wages.
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 into one of 5 categories of cervical/cervico-dorsal impairment (WAC 296-20-240), each paid as a fixed dollar amount.
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
Washington pays fixed dollar awards. The schedule lists amputation of the arm at or above the shoulder; lesser shoulder impairment is rated as a partial loss under L&I rules.
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
Washington has no body-part schedule. An injury to the thumb is rated as an impairment and paid under the state's general formula: Fixed dollar award: impairment measured against total bodily impairment (a statutory dollar amount, CPI-adjusted yearly), using categories set by L&I rule; not tied to wages.
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.
Law and official sources
Official sources
Statute: RCW 51.32.060, 51.32.090, 51.32.080; RCW 51.32.080; WAC 296-20-240, 296-20-280
- Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (official site)
- lni.wa.gov/insurance/_docs/maxtlrates.pdf
- lni.wa.gov/insurance/_docs/CAGTimeLossComp.pdf
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=51.32.080
- app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=296-20-280
- app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=296-20-240
Figures checked September 30, 2026. Maximums change every year; confirm current figures with the Washington 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.