| If you are unable to work due to an on-the-job injury, | | | | then dividing that number by 52. If you worked for your |
| you probably know that you may be able to draw | | | | employer for less than 52 weeks, it is divided by the |
| Workers' Compensation benefits to help make up for | | | | number of weeks you worked before you were |
| your loss. When you are trying to figure out how you | | | | injured. |
| will get by, the first thing you need is a ballpark figure | | | | Based on these very basic calculations, if your |
| of what you can expect to receive. Due to the unique | | | | average weekly wage comes out to $800, you would |
| circumstances every case is different, but there are | | | | be entitled to about $533 per week in Workers' |
| some basic guidelines for calculating weekly Workers' | | | | Compensation benefits. But, of course, it is not really |
| Compensation benefits in North Carolina that can help | | | | that simple. Other factors apply. |
| you get an idea of what to expect. | | | | Types of Workers' Compensation Benefits |
| The Basics of Calculating Weekly Workers' | | | | The benefits you are entitled to are directly affected |
| Compensation Benefits | | | | by your type of disability. There are four basic types |
| Workers' Compensation typically pays two-thirds of | | | | of Workers' Compensation disability: |
| your average weekly wage. It does not fully replace | | | | - Temporary partial disability |
| your pre-injury income. The North Carolina Industrial | | | | - Temporary total disability |
| Commission also sets minimums and maximums for | | | | - Permanent partial disability |
| the average weekly wage, so two-thirds of your | | | | - Permanent total disability |
| average weekly wage may not truly reflect two-thirds | | | | The duration of your benefits will depend on whether |
| of what you were earning weekly. | | | | your disability is temporary or permanent. However, |
| Your average weekly wage is based only on the last | | | | that does not affect the amount of your weekly |
| year of your employment with your current employer. | | | | payments. The weekly amount is based on whether |
| So, if you have worked for the same company for 15 | | | | your disability is partial or total. Total disability, whether |
| years and received pay increase over the duration of | | | | temporary or permanent, entitles you to the full |
| your employment it does not work against you. | | | | two-thirds weekly payment for however long you are |
| Your average weekly wage is calculated by adding up | | | | entitled to benefits. |
| all of your wages for the 52 weeks prior to your injury, | | | | |