Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Announces Statewide Average Weekly Wage for 2012

by Karl Voigt

The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation has announced the statewide average weekly wage for 2012. This directly affects workers who are injured in 2012. Generally, workers’ compensation is paid at 66 2/3% of an injured workers average weekly wage, up to a maximum as defined by the statewide average weekly wage. Section 105.1 of the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act requires the Bureau to calculate and publish the statewide average weekly wage so that statewide maximum compensation rates can be calculated. The statewide average weekly wage for injuries occurring on and after Jan. 1, 2012, is $888.00 per week. This represents a s 3.5 percent increase from last year.

As a result, the maximum weekly benefit an injured worker can now collect is $888.00. Therefore, any injured worker who earns more than $1332.00 a week will be limited to this figure, no matter how much more they earn. Anyone whose preinjury earnings are between $1332.00 and $666.01 a week will receive 66 2/3% in workers’ compensation. Anyone who earns between $666.00 and $493.33 a week will receive $444.00, which is half of the statewide average weekly wage. Anyone who earns $493.32 or less will receive 90% of their preinjury wage.