If an individual is injured at work, workers’ compensation is there to help them and their family while they recover.  The amount they receive is variable based in part on the date of injury, their time of injury compensation and the Statewide Average Weekly Wage. When an individual with a permanent disability is unable to return to work, their benefits never increase.
 
Even when the Statewide Average Weekly Wage is annually adjusted upward, those with permanent disabilities and their families continue to receive the same amount of benefits. To make sure the benefit do not fall below a livable payment, there is minimum weekly compensation. Unfortunately, it is set at $100 per week and has not increased since 2007.
 
The Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council is non-partisan advisory commission made of representatives of the insurance industry, businesses and labor. This body has unanimously recommended that the minimum compensation be increased to $200 per week. As such, I will be introducing legislation to increase the minimum weekly compensation consistent with this recommendation for those whose injuries occurred prior to January 1, 2010.
 
This would increase benefits for the first time in over 20 years. It is the function of the Council to provide such direction on this area of law and we would be well served to trust and follow this recommendation.
 
Please join me in supporting a long overdue increase to the minimum weekly compensation for injured workers and their families.