How much a South Carolina workers comp settlement is worth depends on three things: the body part injured, your impairment rating, and your weekly wage. Typical South Carolina settlements run roughly 2000 to 80000 for typical claims, with serious permanent injuries reaching into the low-to-mid six figures; every case differs and depends on body part, rating, and wage — many claimants fall well within this band.
This guide lays out the South Carolina caps, the body-part schedule, and how the math works, in plain English. All figures are from South Carolina sources, verified as of June 2026.
South Carolina at a Glance
| Wage replacement | 66.67% (two-thirds of the average weekly wage) |
| Max weekly benefit | 1189.94 |
| Min weekly benefit | $75 |
| Waiting period | 7 days |
| PPD method | Scheduled body-part weeks (statutory schedule in S.C. Code 42-9-30) — weeks for the body part multiplied by the impairment/loss-of-use percentage times the weekly comp rate; non-scheduled and back/whole-body injuries use a general-disability/loss-of-earning-capacity method up to 500 weeks |
| Lawyer recommended | For serious injuries, denials, or any settlement offer |
In This South Carolina Guide:
How Much Is a Workers’ Comp Settlement in South Carolina?
How much a South Carolina workers comp settlement is worth depends on three things: the body part injured, your impairment rating, and your weekly wage. Typical South Carolina settlements run roughly 2000 to 80000 for typical claims, with serious permanent injuries reaching into the low-to-mid six figures; every case differs and depends on body part, rating, and wage — many claimants fall well within this band.
This guide lays out the South Carolina caps, the body-part schedule, and how the math works, in plain English. All figures are from South Carolina sources, verified as of June 2026.
Want a quick estimate for your own injury?
South Carolina Body-Part Settlement Values
If your injury is a permanent loss to a specific body part, South Carolina 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 South Carolina figures:
| Body part (scheduled loss) | Statutory weeks of benefits |
| Arm | 220 weeks |
| Hand | 185 weeks |
| Leg | 195 weeks |
| Foot | 140 weeks |
| Eye | 140 weeks |
| Thumb | 65 weeks |
| Index Finger | 40 weeks |
| Second Finger | 35 weeks |
| Third Finger | 25 weeks |
| Fourth Finger | 20 weeks |
| Great Toe | 35 weeks |
| Other Toe | 10 weeks |
| Hearing One Ear | 80 weeks |
| Both Ears | 165 weeks |
| Back | 300 weeks |
Whole-body / maximum: up to 500 (general/total disability cap; back scheduled at 300 weeks but can reach 500 weeks for 50%+ loss of use of the back) weeks.
How South Carolina Calculates Your Payout
The weekly rate equals 66 2/3% of the worker’s average weekly wage, where the average weekly wage is computed from the four quarters (52 weeks) of earnings immediately preceding the injury; the result is capped at the state maximum (1189.94 for 2026 injuries) and floored at 75 (or actual wage if lower)
Permanent disability: Scheduled body-part weeks (statutory schedule in S.C. Code 42-9-30) — weeks for the body part multiplied by the impairment/loss-of-use percentage times the weekly comp rate; non-scheduled and back/whole-body injuries use a general-disability/loss-of-earning-capacity method up to 500 weeks
Offsets: NONE — South Carolina is not a Social Security reverse-offset state; any SSDI coordination is handled at the federal level. Confirm specifics with the Commission and a licensed attorney
What Settlements Actually Run in South Carolina
roughly 2000 to 80000 for typical claims, with serious permanent injuries reaching into the low-to-mid six figures; every case differs and depends on body part, rating, and wage — many claimants fall well within this band That said, no two cases are alike — the number that matters is the one your own injury, rating, and wage produce, not a statewide average.
What drives a South Carolina settlement: injured body part and its scheduled weeks, the impairment/loss-of-use rating, the worker’s average weekly wage (which sets the comp rate), need for future medical care, and the ability or inability to return to the same work
How Workers’ Comp Settlements Work in South Carolina
A South Carolina 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 South Carolina
Most states, including how South Carolina 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 South Carolina settlement rules: The maximum weekly rate is reset every January 1 to the prior year’s statewide average weekly wage (1189.94 for 2026). The 7-day waiting period is paid back retroactively only if disability lasts more than 14 days. Total disability (temporary plus permanent) is generally capped at 500 weeks, but lifetime benefits are available for paraplegia, quadriplegia, or physical brain damage.
Most claim resolutions are clincher (full and final) settlements that must be approved by the Commission
Understanding Your South Carolina Workers Comp Settlement
The size of a South Carolina 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 a South Carolina workers comp settlement is built from.
If any part of your South Carolina 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina?
There is no single average — a South Carolina settlement depends on the body part, your impairment rating, and your wage. Typical ranges run roughly 2000 to 80000 for typical claims, with serious permanent injuries reaching into the low-to-mid six figures; every case differs and depends on body part, rating, and wage — many claimants fall well within this band.
Use the calculator on this page for an estimate, and remember every case is different.
How is a South Carolina workers’ comp settlement calculated?
South Carolina generally pays a share of your average weekly wage (capped at $1189.94/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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina Sources & Resources
- South Carolina South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission: https://wcc.sc.gov
- South Carolina Workers’ Comp Statute: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t42c009.php
- U.S. Department of Labor — Workers’ Comp: dol.gov
- NCCI (rating/benefit data): ncci.com
These South Carolina workers comp settlement figures were last verified against official sources in June 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.
More South Carolina Workers’ Comp Guides
- How to File a South Carolina Workers’ Comp Claim
- South Carolina 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.