New Hampshire Workers’ Comp Settlements — Best Proven Guide (2026)

✓ Verified June 2026

How much a New Hampshire workers comp settlement is worth depends on three things: the body part injured, your impairment rating, and your weekly wage.

Typical New Hampshire settlements run Roughly 20000 to 75000 for many moderate claims, with severe or permanent-disability cases reaching well into six figures — this is an informal range, not an official New Hampshire figure, and every case differs based on the body part, impairment rating, wage, and future medical needs. Confirm any estimate with the NH Department of Labor and a licensed attorney..

This guide lays out the New Hampshire caps, the body-part schedule, and how the math works, in plain English. All figures are from New Hampshire sources, verified as of June 2026.

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New Hampshire at a Glance

Wage replacement 60% of the worker’s average weekly wage (New Hampshire uses 60%, not the more common two-thirds/66.67%)
Max weekly benefit $2,309
Min weekly benefit 461.74
Waiting period 3 days
PPD method Scheduled permanent impairment award — the impairment rating (decimal % from AMA Guides 5th edition) is multiplied by the statutory number of weeks for the affected body part, then by the worker’s weekly compensation rate. Spine injuries and losses to more than one body part are rated against a whole-person 350-week schedule.
Lawyer recommended For serious injuries, denials, or any settlement offer

How Much Is a Workers’ Comp Settlement in New Hampshire?

How much a New Hampshire workers comp settlement is worth depends on three things: the body part injured, your impairment rating, and your weekly wage.

Typical New Hampshire settlements run Roughly 20000 to 75000 for many moderate claims, with severe or permanent-disability cases reaching well into six figures — this is an informal range, not an official New Hampshire figure, and every case differs based on the body part, impairment rating, wage, and future medical needs. Confirm any estimate with the NH Department of Labor and a licensed attorney..

This guide lays out the New Hampshire caps, the body-part schedule, and how the math works, in plain English. All figures are from New Hampshire sources, verified as of June 2026.

Want a quick estimate for your own injury?

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New Hampshire Body-Part Settlement Values

If your injury is a permanent loss to a specific body part, New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire figures:

Body part (scheduled loss) Statutory weeks of benefits
Arm 210 weeks
Hand 189 weeks
Leg 140 weeks
Foot 98 weeks
Eye (One Eye/Vision) 84 weeks
Thumb 76 weeks
Index Finger 47 weeks
Additional Scheduled Values: Middle Finger 38 weeks
Ring Finger 19 weeks
Little Finger 9 weeks
Great Toe 18 weeks
Other Toe 3 weeks
Both Eyes 300 weeks
Hearing One Ear 30 weeks
Binaural Hearing 123 weeks

Whole-body / maximum: up to 350 (whole-person/spine maximum); 300 for both eyes; 210 for an arm (highest single scheduled member) weeks.

How New Hampshire Calculates Your Payout

The weekly compensation rate is 60% of the worker’s average weekly wage (for injuries on/after 2/8/94), subject to the annual minimum (461.74) and maximum (2309.00) effective July 1, 2025. If the AWW is at or below the minimum, the rate equals the full AWW but may not exceed 90% of after-tax earnings. Rates are reset each July 1 based on the state average weekly wage.

Permanent disability: Scheduled permanent impairment award — the impairment rating (decimal % from AMA Guides 5th edition) is multiplied by the statutory number of weeks for the affected body part, then by the worker’s weekly compensation rate. Spine injuries and losses to more than one body part are rated against a whole-person 350-week schedule.

Offsets: New Hampshire permits an offset for Social Security old-age (retirement) benefits under RSA 281-A:54 (generally up to 50% of the Social Security retirement benefit). New Hampshire does NOT take a reverse offset against Social Security Disability (SSDI), so SSDI may instead be reduced by SSA. Confirm specifics with the state board.

What Settlements Actually Run in New Hampshire

Roughly 20000 to 75000 for many moderate claims, with severe or permanent-disability cases reaching well into six figures — this is an informal range, not an official New Hampshire figure, and every case differs based on the body part, impairment rating, wage, and future medical needs. Confirm any estimate with the NH Department of Labor and a licensed attorney.

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 New Hampshire settlement: body part affected and its scheduled weeks, the permanent impairment rating (AMA Guides 5th ed.), the worker’s average weekly wage / comp rate, expected future medical costs, and the worker’s ability to return to work

How Workers’ Comp Settlements Work in New Hampshire

A New Hampshire 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.

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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 New Hampshire

Most states, including how New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire settlement rules: New Hampshire has the highest maximum weekly benefit in the nation. The 3-day waiting period is also waived if the worker returns to temporary alternative (light) duty within 5 days of injury. Permanent impairment awards require a medical opinion based on the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, 5th edition.

The scheduled impairment award is separate from (and paid in addition to) weekly indemnity benefits.

Understanding Your New Hampshire Workers Comp Settlement

The size of a New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire workers comp settlement is built from.

If any part of your New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire?

There is no single average — a New Hampshire settlement depends on the body part, your impairment rating, and your wage. Typical ranges run Roughly 20000 to 75000 for many moderate claims, with severe or permanent-disability cases reaching well into six figures — this is an informal range, not an official New Hampshire figure, and every case differs based on the body part, impairment rating, wage, and future medical needs.

Confirm any estimate with the NH Department of Labor and a licensed attorney.. Use the calculator on this page for an estimate, and remember every case is different.

How is a New Hampshire workers’ comp settlement calculated?

New Hampshire generally pays a share of your average weekly wage (capped at $2309/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 New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire Sources & Resources

These New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire Workers’ Comp Guides

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.

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