The California Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) has announced an increase in the minimum and maximum temporary total disability (TTD) rates. The increase will go into effect on January 1, 2020, and see the minimum TTD rate increase from $187.71 to $194.91 per week, and the maximum TTD rate increase from $1,251.38 to $1,299.43 per week.
The Department of Industrial relations notes that:
“Labor Code section 4453(a) (10) requires the rate for TTD be increased by an amount equal to percentage increase in the State Average Weekly Wage (SAWW) as compared to the prior year. The SAWW is defined as the average weekly wage paid to employees covered by unemployment insurance as reported by the U.S. Department of Labor for California for the 12 months ending March 31 in the year preceding the injury. In the 12 months ending March 31, 2019, the SAWW increased from $1,276 to $1,325 – an increase of 3.84013 percent.”
Workers with a date of injury on or after January 1, 2003 who are receiving permanent total disability (PTD) or life pension (LP) benefits are entitled to have their rate adjusted based on the SAWW under Labor Code section 4659(c).