National Office
CSTE
2872 Woodcock Blvd
Suite 303
Atlanta, GA 30341
770-458-3811
770-458-8516
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Indicator 19: Workers’ Compensation Awards |
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| • Annual workers’ compensation benefits paid and average amount paid per covered worker |
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| Data Source: Total amount and average benefits paid: National Academy of Social Insurance. |
Workers’ compensation was first implemented in the United States in 1911 in nine states and in subsequent years by all states. This state-based social insurance program was developed to provide guaranteed compensation for workers with work-related injuries or illnesses while limiting the liability exposure of employers. Workers’ compensation provides benefits to partially replace lost wages and pay for medical expenses associated with a work-related injury or illness. In case of a death, the worker’s dependents are eligible for survivor benefits.
While the amount of benefits paid is an indicator of the direct financial cost of work-related injuries and illnesses, it does not reflect their true burden. Indirect costs to the employer and worker are not taken into account. In addition, some workers who are eligible for benefits do not file. Finally, several types of workers may not be covered by state workers’ compensation systems, including the self-employed, corporate executives, domestic and agricultural workers, federal employees, and railroad, long shore, and maritime workers.
There are substantial differences between states in wages and medical costs, in workers’ compensation eligibility, reimbursement, and other administrative regulations governing workers’ compensation. Therefore, differences among states in benefits paid could be due to a variety of factors other than injury and illness incidence. For this reason, this occupational health indicator should be used to monitor trends within states over time rather than to compare states.
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| Data |
| • 2000 click here to view table |
| • 2001 click here to view table |
| • 2002 click here to view table |
| • 2003 click here to view table |
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