How much an Indiana 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 Indiana caps, the body-part schedule, and how the math works, in plain English. All figures are from Indiana sources, verified as of October 2026.
Indiana at a Glance
| Wage replacement | 66.67 |
| Max weekly benefit | $878 |
| Min weekly benefit | 50 (Indiana treats any average weekly wage under 75 dollars as 75, so the floor is two-thirds of 75. The benefit generally cannot exceed the worker’s actual weekly wage.) |
| Waiting period | 7 days |
| PPD method | Indiana uses “degrees of permanent partial impairment” (PPI), not weeks. A doctor assigns an impairment rating, usually under the AMA Guides, and it converts into degrees. Amputations and total loss of use of scheduled body parts get fixed degrees by statute (IC 22-3-3-10). Everything else, including the back, is rated as a percentage of the whole person, where 1% equals 1 degree. Each degree is paid at a fixed dollar value that rises by tier. It does not depend on the worker’s wage. For injuries on or after July 1, 2026, the tiers are cumulative: degrees 1–10 pay 1970 each, 11–35 pay 2197 each, 36–50 pay 3585 each, and 51–100 pay 4569 each. |
| Lawyer recommended | For serious injuries, denials, or any settlement offer |
In This Indiana Guide:
How Much Is a Workers’ Comp Settlement in Indiana?
How much an Indiana 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 Indiana caps, the body-part schedule, and how the math works, in plain English. All figures are from Indiana sources, verified as of October 2026.
Want a quick estimate for your own injury?
How Indiana Calculates Your Payout
The weekly rate is 66 2/3% of the average weekly wage. The wage is usually averaged over the 52 weeks before the injury. For injuries from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, the wage counted is capped at 1316, so the maximum weekly benefit is 878. The 75-dollar wage floor described under min_weekly also applies.
Rates apply by date of injury, and the Board publishes a new table each July 1.
Permanent disability: Indiana uses “degrees of permanent partial impairment” (PPI), not weeks. A doctor assigns an impairment rating, usually under the AMA Guides, and it converts into degrees. Amputations and total loss of use of scheduled body parts get fixed degrees by statute (IC 22-3-3-10). Everything else, including the back, is rated as a percentage of the whole person, where 1% equals 1 degree.
Each degree is paid at a fixed dollar value that rises by tier. It does not depend on the worker’s wage. For injuries on or after July 1, 2026, the tiers are cumulative: degrees 1–10 pay 1970 each, 11–35 pay 2197 each, 36–50 pay 3585 each, and 51–100 pay 4569 each.
What Settlements Actually Run in Indiana
What drives an Indiana settlement: The body part and the PPI rating in degrees, along with which tier those degrees fall in.
Also: the average weekly wage, which drives temporary disability (TTD/TPD) but not PPI; how much future medical care is needed and whether it stays open or is closed out; whether the worker can return to work or might qualify for permanent total disability; any disputes over the rating, causation or whether the injury happened at work; and Medicare’s interests for beneficiaries.
How Workers’ Comp Settlements Work in Indiana
An Indiana 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 Indiana
Most states, including how Indiana 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.
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Other Indiana settlement rules: (1) PPI is paid in fixed dollars per degree, not as a share of wages, so two workers with the same rating get the same PPI amount whatever they earn. (2) The Board must approve settlements, and a settlement agreement filed with the Board can close out future medical. (3) TTD generally lasts up to 500 weeks, and temporary partial disability up to 300 weeks.
(4) A worker who disagrees with the treating doctor’s PPI rating can ask the Board for an independent medical exam. (5) The Board’s PPI Guide (October 2023) explains how ratings are evaluated and paid: https://www.in.gov/dA/1f2f9fcddf/PPIGuide__10.2023.pdf
Understanding Your Indiana Workers Comp Settlement
The size of an Indiana 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 Indiana workers comp settlement is built from.
If any part of your Indiana 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 Indiana 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 Indiana?
There is no single average — an Indiana 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 Indiana workers’ comp settlement calculated?
Indiana generally pays a share of your average weekly wage (capped at $878/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 Indiana 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 Indiana Sources & Resources
- Indiana Worker’s Compensation Board of Indiana: https://www.in.gov/wcb/
- Indiana Workers’ Comp Statute: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/22 (IC 22-3-3-10 covers the PPI schedule and per-degree values; IC 22-3-3-22 covers the wage caps)
- U.S. Department of Labor — Workers’ Comp: dol.gov
- NCCI (rating/benefit data): ncci.com
These Indiana 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 Indiana Workers’ Comp Guides
- How to File an Indiana Workers’ Comp Claim
- Indiana 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.