How much a Arkansas workers comp settlement is worth depends on three things: the body part injured, your impairment rating, and your weekly wage. Typical Arkansas settlements run 8000 to 75000 for many Arkansas claims, with higher-impairment or surgical/back cases reaching into the low six figures; every case differs and there is no guaranteed amount..
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 June 2026.
Arkansas at a Glance
| Wage replacement | 66.67% (two-thirds of the worker’s average weekly wage) |
| Max weekly benefit | $953 |
| Min weekly benefit | $20 |
| Waiting period | 7 days |
| PPD method | Combination. Listed body parts are paid as scheduled weeks at the PPD rate under Ark. Code § 11-9-521; injuries not on the schedule are apportioned to the “body as a whole” (450 weeks) under § 11-9-522, where a claimant may also recover wage-loss/loss-of-earning-capacity above the anatomical impairment rating. |
| 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 a Arkansas workers comp settlement is worth depends on three things: the body part injured, your impairment rating, and your weekly wage. Typical Arkansas settlements run 8000 to 75000 for many Arkansas claims, with higher-impairment or surgical/back cases reaching into the low six figures; every case differs and there is no guaranteed amount..
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 June 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 |
| Hand | 183 weeks |
| Foot | 131 weeks |
| Thumb | 73 weeks |
| First/Index Finger | 43 weeks |
| Great Toe | 32 weeks |
| Other Toe | 11 weeks |
Whole-body / maximum: up to 450 weeks.
How Arkansas Calculates Your Payout
The weekly rate is 66 2/3% of the worker’s average weekly wage, capped at 953 for total disability (TTD/PTD) and 715 for permanent partial disability, with a 20 minimum; the 2026 state average weekly wage used to set these caps is 1120.68.
Permanent disability: Combination. Listed body parts are paid as scheduled weeks at the PPD rate under Ark. Code § 11-9-521; injuries not on the schedule are apportioned to the “body as a whole” (450 weeks) under § 11-9-522, where a claimant may also recover wage-loss/loss-of-earning-capacity above the anatomical impairment rating.
Offsets: NONE as a state reverse-offset — Arkansas does not reduce comp for Social Security retirement; instead the Social Security Administration may offset SSDI. Workers’ comp and unemployment benefits cannot be drawn for the same period. Confirm coordination with the board and a licensed attorney.
What Settlements Actually Run in Arkansas
8000 to 75000 for many Arkansas claims, with higher-impairment or surgical/back cases reaching into the low six figures; every case differs and there is no guaranteed amount. 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 Arkansas settlement: body part injured, the AMA-based permanent impairment rating, the worker’s average weekly wage (which sets the comp rate), projected future medical care, and the ability/inability to return to work (wage-loss is key for unscheduled/whole-body claims).
How Workers’ Comp Settlements Work in Arkansas
A 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.
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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.
Knowing which bucket your injury falls into is the first step to understanding what your case may be worth.
Other Arkansas settlement rules: PPD is paid at a lower cap (715) than total disability (953). Permanent total disability is paid for the claimant’s lifetime (the post-age-60 cutoff was struck down in Osborne v. Bekaert). Arkansas requires “objective findings” to prove a compensable injury, and impairment must be based on the AMA Guides. The 7-day waiting period is reimbursed only if disability lasts more than 14 days.
These figures change every January 1 — claimants should confirm current values with the AWCC and a licensed Arkansas attorney.
Understanding Your Arkansas Workers Comp Settlement
The size of a 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 a 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 — a Arkansas settlement depends on the body part, your impairment rating, and your wage. Typical ranges run 8000 to 75000 for many Arkansas claims, with higher-impairment or surgical/back cases reaching into the low six figures; every case differs and there is no guaranteed amount.. Use the calculator on this page for an estimate, and remember every case is different.
How is a 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 (AWCC), within the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing: https://www.awcc.state.ar.us
- Arkansas Workers’ Comp Statute: https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/title-11/chapter-9/subchapter-5/section-11-9-521/
- 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 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 Arkansas Workers’ Comp Guides
- How to File a Arkansas Workers’ Comp Claim
- 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.