This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. I am not a lawyer. Consult a licensed workers’ comp attorney in your state.
Arkansas Workers’ Comp Weekly Benefits Calculator (2026)
Quick Answer
In Arkansas, workers’ comp pays 66.67% of your average weekly wage, up to a maximum of $953.00 per week. Your benefit is calculated using your gross wages from the 52 weeks before your injury date, divided by the number of weeks you actually worked. This number is your Average Weekly Wage (AWW). Multiply it by 0.6667 and you have your Temporary Total Disability (TTD) benefit. If the result exceeds $953.00, your benefit is capped at $953.00 regardless of your actual wage.
Source: Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission, Ark. Code Ann. § 11-9-522 (2025).
From Shane: Living on 66.67% Is Harder Than It Sounds
I know exactly what it feels like to open that first workers’ comp check and think, “This can’t be right.”
After my 2011 injury, I assumed the system would take care of me. I didn’t check the math. I didn’t ask how they calculated my average weekly wage. I just deposited the check and struggled to pay my rent. It wasn’t until my third injury — and two years of obsessive research — that I realized my AWW had been miscalculated both times. The insurer used a shorter wage window, excluded my overtime, and shaved weeks off my benefit. I left real money on the table because I trusted a process designed to minimize what you receive.
Sixty-six percent sounds close enough. It isn’t. If you clear $1,200 a week take-home normally, you’re now getting roughly $800 in workers’ comp — and that number is pre-tax income replacement, not a guarantee. Rent doesn’t adjust. Car payments don’t adjust. Groceries don’t adjust. From day one of your claim, you need to verify every single number the insurance company uses to calculate your check. This guide will show you exactly how to do that.
The Exact Calculation Formula
Step 1: Determine Your Average Weekly Wage (AWW)
Under Ark. Code Ann. § 11-9-519, your AWW is calculated using your gross wages earned in the 52 weeks immediately preceding your injury, divided by the number of weeks you actually worked during that period.
Formula:
AWW = Total Gross Wages (prior 52 weeks) ÷ Weeks Actually Worked
TTD Benefit = AWW × 0.6667
Weeks “actually worked” matters. If you were laid off for 4 weeks or missed 3 weeks due to illness, only the weeks you worked count in the denominator — not all 52. This is critical. Insurers sometimes divide by 52 automatically, which lowers your AWW and your benefit check.
How Overtime Is Handled
Overtime wages are included in your AWW calculation in Arkansas. Your AWW is based on gross wages, which includes all overtime pay received during the 52-week look-back period. This is non-negotiable under Arkansas law, and insurers who exclude overtime are underpaying you. Keep your pay stubs. Every single one.
How Bonuses Are Handled
Regular, recurring bonuses that are part of your normal compensation — such as production bonuses or attendance bonuses paid consistently — are generally included in the AWW calculation. One-time, discretionary bonuses (like a holiday gift bonus) may be excluded. If you receive any form of bonus pay, document it and discuss it with an attorney before accepting an AWW determination.
Second Jobs (Concurrent Employment)
If you held a second job at the time of your injury and that injury prevents you from working that second job too, Arkansas law allows wages from concurrent employment to be included in your AWW calculation. You must provide wage documentation from both employers. Insurers routinely ignore concurrent employment wages. Do not let them.
Pre-Calculated Arkansas Workers’ Comp Benefit Table (2026)
Based on 66.67% of Average Weekly Wage. Maximum benefit: $953.00/week.
All figures rounded to the nearest dollar.
| Average Weekly Wage | TTD Benefit (66.67%) | At Maximum Cap? |
|---|---|---|
| $300 | $200 | No |
| $400 | $267 | No |
| $500 | $333 | No |
| $600 | $400 | No |
| $700 | $467 | No |
| $800 | $533 | No |
| $900 | $600 | No |
| $1,000 | $667 | No |
| $1,100 | $733 | No |
| $1,200 | $800 | No |
| $1,300 | $867 | No |
| $1,400 | $933 | No |
| $1,429 | $953 | At Cap |
| $1,500 | $953 | Capped |
| $1,600 | $953 | Capped |
| $1,700 | $953 | Capped |
| $1,800 | $953 | Capped |
| $1,900 | $953 | Capped |
| $2,000 | $953 | Capped |
| $2,100 | $953 | Capped |
| $2,200 | $953 | Capped |
| $2,300 | $953 | Capped |
| $2,400 | $953 | Capped |
| $2,500 | $953 | Capped |
| $2,600 | $953 | Capped |
| $2,700 | $953 | Capped |
| $2,800 | $953 | Capped |
| $2,900 | $953 | Capped |
| $3,000 | $953 | Capped |
Note: The cap kicks in at an AWW of approximately $1,429. Any worker earning above that threshold receives the same flat $953.00 per week, regardless of actual earnings. High-wage earners in Arkansas take a disproportionately larger income hit under this structure.
What the Law Says vs. What Actually Happens
The Law Says:
Your AWW must reflect your actual earning capacity, using all 52 weeks of gross wages divided by actual weeks worked, inclusive of overtime and concurrent employment.
What Actually Happens:
1. Dividing by 52 instead of actual weeks worked.
If you missed 6 weeks of work during the prior year, your insurer may divide your total wages by 52 anyway. That inflates the denominator and shrinks your AWW — and your benefit. Request your insurer’s AWW worksheet in writing immediately after your claim is filed.
2. Excluding overtime as “irregular.”
Some adjusters will argue your overtime was inconsistent and therefore shouldn’t be averaged in. This is legally incorrect in Arkansas. All gross wages are included. If they exclude even one significant payroll period of overtime, challenge it.
3. Using only your most recent 13 weeks.
This shortcut happens more than it should. Some adjusters calculate AWW using only the most recent quarter of wages. If your wages fluctuate seasonally or you recently had a raise, this can work against you significantly.
4. Ignoring second-job wages entirely.
The insurer covers only the employer where the injury occurred. They will not proactively ask about other jobs. You must volunteer that information and provide documentation.
How to Catch It: Pull every pay stub or a full wage statement from your employer for the 52 weeks before your injury. Calculate your own AWW using the formula above. Compare it to what the insurer is using. If there’s a discrepancy of even $50/week in AWW, that’s a $33/week benefit difference — and over a 26-week disability, that’s $858 you’re owed.
Real Case Example: Fluctuating Hours and Overtime
Worker Profile:
– Name: “Marcus” (composite example)
– Occupation: Warehouse foreman, central Arkansas
– Injury date: March 15, 2025
– Look-back period: March 16, 2024 – March 14, 2025
Wage History (prior 52 weeks):
– Weeks worked: 48 (missed 4 weeks for surgery unrelated to this injury)
– Total gross wages: $58,400 (includes base pay plus $7,200 in overtime)
– Second job (part-time delivery): $8,300 total; injury prevented this work as well
Correct AWW Calculation:
Combined gross wages: $58,400 + $8,300 = $66,700
Weeks actually worked: 48
AWW = $66,700 ÷ 48 = $1,389.58
TTD Benefit = $1,389.58 × 0.6667 = $926.62/week
What the insurer initially calculated:
Only primary employer wages: $58,400
Divided by 52 (not actual weeks): $58,400 ÷ 52 = $1,123.08
TTD Benefit = $1,123.08 × 0.6667 = $748.73/week
Weekly difference: $926.62 − $748.73 = $177.89/week
Over a 20-week disability period: $3,557.80 underpaid
Marcus caught this because he kept his pay stubs and calculated his own AWW. His attorney filed a formal challenge, and the correct benefit was reinstated within six weeks of the dispute being filed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does Arkansas workers’ comp pay my full salary?
Direct Answer: No. Arkansas pays 66.67% of your average weekly wage, capped at $953.00 per week in 2026.
Workers’ comp in every state is a wage replacement benefit, not full salary continuation. The 66.67% rate is intentional — it originated as an incentive structure designed decades ago to encourage return to work. Whether you agree with that logic or not, it’s the law. For most workers earning below roughly $1,430 per week, your check will equal exactly two-thirds of your normal gross pay. For workers above that threshold, the cap means you receive a shrinking percentage of your actual wage. A worker earning $3,000 per week receives $953 — about 31.8% of their normal income. This is the brutal math of the Arkansas cap, and it disproportionately harms higher-skilled tradespeople, foremen, and senior construction workers. Understanding this before your injury — and during wage negotiations — matters. There is no legal mechanism in Arkansas to collect the difference between your benefit and your actual wage during a temporary disability, which makes accurate AWW calculation the single most important financial fight you will have during your claim.
Q: When does my first workers’ comp check arrive in Arkansas?
Direct Answer: Arkansas has a 7-day waiting period. If your disability lasts more than 14 days, you are retroactively paid for the first 7 days.
Under Ark. Code Ann. § 11-9-501, you do not receive workers’ comp benefits for the first 7 calendar days of your disability unless your injury keeps you out of work for 14 days or more — in which case you receive payment retroactively for those initial 7 days. From a practical standpoint, expect your first payment to arrive 14–21 days after your claim is accepted, assuming no disputes. Insurance carriers have up to 15 days to begin payment once a claim is accepted. If you hit day 16 with no check and no denial letter, contact the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission (AWCC) directly. Do not wait. Delays in payment sometimes indicate a quiet dispute being built behind the scenes, and the earlier you respond, the better.
Q: What is the difference between TTD, TPD, PPD, and PTD benefits in Arkansas?
Direct Answer: These four benefit types cover different stages and severities of your work injury: TTD (total temporary), TPD (partial temporary), PPD (permanent partial), and PTD (permanent total).
Temporary Total Disability (TTD): You cannot work at all during recovery. Pays 66.67% of AWW up to $953.00/week.
Temporary Partial Disability (TPD): You return to light duty at reduced wages. Pays 66.67% of the difference between your pre-injury AWW and your current reduced wages.
Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): Your injury heals but leaves a permanent impairment. Calculated using an impairment rating multiplied by a statutory number of weeks, paid at 66.67% of AWW. This is where most settlement negotiations occur in Arkansas.
Permanent Total Disability (PTD): You cannot return to any gainful employment. Pays 66.67% of AWW, potentially for the duration of your disability. PTD claims in Arkansas are vigorously contested by insurers and almost always require legal representation. The distinction between these benefit types determines not just your weekly check but the total value of your claim — and insurers have strong financial incentives to move you from TTD to a lower category as quickly as possible.
Q: Can my employer reduce or stop my benefits if I return to light duty?
Direct Answer: Yes. If your employer offers you light-duty work within your medical restrictions and you refuse it, your TTD benefits can be suspended in Arkansas.
This is one of the most consequential pressure points in any workers’ comp claim. Under Arkansas law, if your treating physician releases you to light-duty work and your employer offers you a position that stays within those medical restrictions, you are generally required to accept it. If you refuse a legitimate offer, the insurance carrier can petition to stop your TTD benefits. “Legitimate” is the operative word. The offered position must genuinely comply with your physical restrictions. If your doctor says no lifting over 10 pounds and the light-duty job requires you to stand for 8 hours on a concrete floor, that may not be compliant — but you will need to document the discrepancy formally. Before you accept or refuse any return-to-work offer, obtain written clarification from your treating physician about what you can and cannot do, and get the job description from your employer in writing. Do not make this decision without consulting an attorney.
Q: How is AWW calculated if I was a new employee and worked less than 52 weeks?
Direct Answer: If you worked fewer than 52 weeks before your injury, Arkansas calculates AWW using a “similar employee” standard or by dividing your total wages by the actual number of weeks worked.
When a worker has less than a full year of employment history with the same employer, the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission may look at the wages of a comparable employee doing the same type of work to establish a representative AWW. If no similar employee exists, the AWW is typically calculated by dividing total wages earned by the actual number of weeks worked. This can actually benefit newer workers if their wages were on an upward trajectory, since the shorter denominator may produce a higher AWW. However, insurers do not always volunteer the most favorable calculation method. If you were hired fewer than 52 weeks before your injury, explicitly ask how your AWW was determined and request the underlying calculation in writing. This is especially common for seasonal construction workers, new hires in manufacturing, and employees who recently changed jobs.
Q: Are workers’ comp benefits taxable in Arkansas?
Direct Answer: No. Workers’ compensation benefits are not subject to federal income tax or Arkansas state income tax.
Under IRC § 104(a)(1), workers’ compensation benefits paid under a state workers’ comp statute are excluded from gross income. This means your $800/week TTD check is $800 — you do not owe state or federal taxes on it, and you do not report it as income on your tax returns. There is one narrow exception: if you are receiving both Social Security Disability Insurance (SS
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