How much an Arkansas workers comp settlement is worth depends on three things: the body part injured, your impairment rating, and your weekly wage. This guide lays out the Arkansas caps, the body-part schedule, and how the math works, in plain English. All figures are from Arkansas sources, verified as of October 2026.
Arkansas at a Glance
| Wage replacement | 66.67 |
| Max weekly benefit | $953 |
| Min weekly benefit | $20 |
| Waiting period | 7 days |
| PPD method | A combination. Scheduled injuries (Ark. Code § 11-9-521) pay a fixed number of weeks, prorated by the percentage of loss or loss of use of the member. Unscheduled injuries (back, neck, internal organs and other body-as-a-whole injuries) are rated as a percentage of the whole body, valued at 450 weeks (§ 11-9-522(a)). Benefits for wage-loss disability above the impairment rating may also be available under § 11-9-522(b). Generally, they are not available if the worker returns to work at the same or higher wage. |
| Lawyer recommended | For serious injuries, denials, or any settlement offer |
In This Arkansas Guide:
How Much Is a Workers’ Comp Settlement in Arkansas?
How much an Arkansas workers comp settlement is worth depends on three things: the body part injured, your impairment rating, and your weekly wage. This guide lays out the Arkansas caps, the body-part schedule, and how the math works, in plain English. All figures are from Arkansas sources, verified as of October 2026.
Want a quick estimate for your own injury?
Arkansas Body-Part Settlement Values
If your injury is a permanent loss to a specific body part, Arkansas assigns it a set number of weeks of benefits. Your payout is roughly those weeks multiplied by your impairment rating and your weekly comp rate. Here are the Arkansas figures:
| Body part (scheduled loss) | Statutory weeks of benefits |
| Arm At Or Above Elbow | 244 weeks |
| Arm Below Elbow | 183 weeks |
| Hand | 183 weeks |
| Leg At Or Above Knee | 184 weeks |
| Leg Below Knee | 131 weeks |
| Foot | 131 weeks |
| Eye (Enucleated) | 105 weeks |
| Thumb | 73 weeks |
| Index Finger | 43 weeks |
| Second Finger | 37 weeks |
| Third Finger | 24 weeks |
| Fourth Finger | 19 weeks |
| Great Toe | 32 weeks |
| Other Toe | 11 weeks |
| Hearing One Ear | 42 weeks |
| Hearing Both Ears | 158 weeks |
Whole-body / maximum: up to 450 weeks.
How Arkansas Calculates Your Payout
The temporary total disability rate is 66 2/3% of your average weekly wage. For injuries from Jan 1 2026 through Dec 31 2026 it is capped at 953 per week, which is 85% of the state average weekly wage of 1120.68. The permanent partial disability rate is also 66 2/3% of your average weekly wage, capped at 715 per week (75% of the total-disability maximum).
The minimum is 20 per week. The maximums apply based on the date of injury.
Permanent disability: A combination. Scheduled injuries (Ark. Code § 11-9-521) pay a fixed number of weeks, prorated by the percentage of loss or loss of use of the member. Unscheduled injuries (back, neck, internal organs and other body-as-a-whole injuries) are rated as a percentage of the whole body, valued at 450 weeks (§ 11-9-522(a)). Benefits for wage-loss disability above the impairment rating may also be available under § 11-9-522(b).
Generally, they are not available if the worker returns to work at the same or higher wage.
Offsets: Arkansas does not offset for Social Security retirement benefits. For injured workers age 65 or older, permanent partial disability benefits (§ 11-9-522(f)) and permanent total disability benefits (§ 11-9-519(g)) are reduced dollar for dollar by benefits from a publicly or privately funded retirement or pension plan. Benefits paid from the worker’s own contributions are not offset.
What Settlements Actually Run in Arkansas
What drives an Arkansas settlement: The body part and whether the injury is scheduled or unscheduled. The impairment rating, which must rest on objective medical findings and use the AMA Guides (4th edition) adopted by Commission rule. Your average weekly wage, up to the state maximums. Whether the work injury is the “major cause” of the permanent impairment.
Expected future medical costs, since a joint-petition settlement under § 11-9-805 generally closes future medical. Whether you can return to work at your previous wage, which affects wage-loss eligibility. Your age, education and work history for wage-loss claims. The age-65 retirement-plan offset.
How Workers’ Comp Settlements Work in Arkansas
An Arkansas workers comp settlement usually has two parts: the wage benefits you are paid while you cannot work, and a lump sum for any permanent damage the injury leaves behind. The wage piece replaces a share of your average weekly wage, up to the state cap shown above.
The permanent piece is where most of the settlement value lives, and it depends on the body part, your impairment rating, and how the state values that loss.
Scheduled vs. Unscheduled Injuries in Arkansas
Most states, including how Arkansas handles many claims, divide permanent injuries into two buckets. A scheduled loss is a specific body part with a set number of weeks assigned to it, like an arm, hand, or leg. An unscheduled loss affects the body as a whole, like a back or a head injury, and is often worth more because it touches your overall ability to earn.
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Knowing which bucket your injury falls into is the first step to understanding what your case may be worth.
Other Arkansas settlement rules: Compensation for the first 7 days of disability is not paid, not counting the day of injury, and payments start on the ninth day. If disability lasts 2 weeks, compensation is paid back to the first day. Permanent impairment must be supported by objective findings.
The 2026 maximums (TTD 953, PPD 715) apply only to injuries from Jan 1 2026 through Dec 31 2026, and earlier injuries use the maximum for their injury year. Lump-sum and joint-petition settlements must be approved by the Commission. Commission rules set specific compensation for partial finger amputations (Rule 099.12).
Understanding Your Arkansas Workers Comp Settlement
The size of an Arkansas workers comp settlement is not random — it follows the state’s own formula. Your average weekly wage sets your benefit rate, the body part and impairment rating set the number of weeks, and the state cap sets the ceiling. Put together, those pieces are what an Arkansas workers comp settlement is built from.
If any part of your Arkansas workers comp settlement is unclear, the calculator below gives a quick estimate and your state board can confirm the current caps and the body-part schedule.
Got a settlement offer? Before you accept, it helps to know what your Arkansas case may really be worth. An attorney can review the offer, often at no upfront cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a workers’ comp settlement in Arkansas?
There is no single average — an Arkansas settlement depends on the body part, your impairment rating, and your wage. Use the calculator on this page for an estimate, and remember every case is different.
How is an Arkansas workers’ comp settlement calculated?
Arkansas generally pays a share of your average weekly wage (capped at $953/week), then adds a permanent-disability amount based on the body part and your impairment rating. The state’s body-part schedule sets the number of weeks.
Do I need a lawyer to settle my Arkansas workers’ comp case?
Not always, but for a serious injury, a denied claim, or a settlement offer you are unsure about, many claimants talk to a workers’ comp attorney first — the consultation is usually free and represented claimants often recover more.
Official Arkansas Sources & Resources
- Arkansas Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission (now under the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing): https://labor.arkansas.gov/
- Arkansas Workers’ Comp Statute: https://arkleg.state.ar.us/ (Ark. Code Ann. Title 11, Chapter 9, Subchapter 5, §§ 11-9-501 through 11-9-530)
- U.S. Department of Labor — Workers’ Comp: dol.gov
- NCCI (rating/benefit data): ncci.com
These Arkansas workers comp settlement figures were last verified against official sources in October 2026. State benefit caps change every year — confirm the current figure with your state workers’-comp board or a licensed attorney before you rely on it.
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More Arkansas Workers’ Comp Guides
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- Arkansas Workers’ Comp Requirements (Employers)
- Workers’ Comp Guides for All 50 States
Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal, medical, or financial advice. Workers Comp Explained is an independent educational resource, not a law firm or insurer. Workers’ comp benefits, settlement values, deadlines, and requirements vary by state and by the specific facts of your injury and change over time, and any settlement figures here are illustrative only.
Confirm your rights and any deadline with your state’s workers’ compensation board and a licensed attorney before you act.