The California Workers' Compensation Institute (CWCI) says work injury claims will increase in 2016 due to a rise in California's State Average Weekly Wage (SAWW) in the year ending on March 31, 2015.

The SAWW rose just under 2.3% from $1,095.70 to 1,120.67 last year, says CWCI. As a result, temporary total disability (TTD) and permanent total disability (PTD) rates for 2016 work injury claims will rise, in addition to other workers' comp benefits that are tied to changes in the SAWW.

According to CWCI, California’s TTD/PTD maximum rate for 2015 job injuries is $1,103.29 per week. CWCI calculates that the maximum will rise to $1,128.43 per week for claims with injury dates on or after Jan. 1, 2016.

California law also links minimum weekly TTD/PTD rates to SAWW increases, so according to CWCI, those minimum rates will rise from the current $165.49 per week to $169.26 for claims with 2016 injury dates. CWCI has confirmed the new TTD/PTD rates for 2016 injury claims with the state Division of Workers' Compensation.

Beginning next January, other workers' comp benefits will be bumped up by the recent increase in the SAWW, including TTD paid two years or more after injury, life pension and PTD payments for injuries on or after Jan. 1, 2003 and installment payments on death claims.

For more information, read the official press release from CWCI.

Special Reports /

California workers' comp benefits will increase in 2016

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